It’s no secret that young people love video games. But who plays online casino games? Is it millennials or the baby boomers? Do men gamble more often than women?
We’ll answer all these questions in this article. What’s more, we’ll tell you how iGaming nearly collapsed due to a lack of interest from young people. Also, find out how casino demographics are changing to include people from countries that had no interest in iGaming two decades ago.
Preferred Devices
Mobile is the device of choice for the majority of online casino players around the world. This all happened in the last decade. Between the 1990s and 2010, almost everyone who gambled online needed a desktop computer.
But after the launch of the iPhone and android smartphones, the use of mobile phones exploded. To expound more, smartphones got more popular because they’re far cheaper than desktop computers.
A decent smartphone for playing online slots and poker costs as little as $150. A good desktop costs double or triple the amount. Additionally, smartphones are more convenient.
You can carry your smartphone around. And you can use it for multiple purposes, from calling and texting to social media and gaming. Due to this versatility, mobile casino gaming isn’t just rampant in developing nations. It’s also dominant in wealthy countries like the UK and the US.
To clear, one of the main reasons mobile casino gaming is exploding has everything to do with advanced technology. Mobile casinos support most of the games you can play on your desktop. As such, there’s no disadvantage in using your iPhone over your Mac computer.
Favorite Casino Games
Online casino players have varying gambling tastes depending on age, gender, income levels, and physical location. Older gamblers love slot machines. The younger generation prefers card games like poker and blackjack.
The majority of female gamblers play slot machines and bingo. When it comes to men, the numbers are split between slots and table games. Region-wise, African gamblers focus more on sports betting, European football to be particular.
In Latin America, most people bet on national soccer leagues. In the US and Canada, Major League sports dominate the betting space. However, there are also a lot of people who play slots and table games.
Overall, online casino players have a preference for casino games with high payouts. This is why new iGaming platforms like online keno with high payouts have been trending of late. People don’t just want to have fun. They also want to win.
Young and Male
The old stereotype that gamers are mostly young and male is true for the online casino space. But this hasn’t always been the case. In the early days of online gambling, the industry was dominated by older players.
It makes sense. Gambling in Las Vegas and other land-based casinos used to be associated with older people. So, when the industry went online, baby boomers became a crucial demographic.
During the 2000s, the average online casino player was over 40 years. Younger players preferred to play games of skill over slot machines. To avert a looming crisis, the iGaming industry looked for ways to attract younger players.
Developers introduced skill-based slots. They invented live casino gaming and marketed the industry aggressively to millennials. These days, the standard online casino player is under 35 years. A case in point: 47% of Canadian online gamblers fall between 20 and 29 years.
Men gamble a lot more often than women. But it all depends on where the study was done. On average, 60% of online gamblers are male while 40% are female. Men dominate the sports betting space, with up to 70% of those polled being male. But in the casino space, things are a bit balanced.
Although there are more male gamblers in the industry, the gap is closing. According to a 2019 study, 17% of women and 25% of men in the UK gambled once every month. This was a slight increase compared to the previous year.
Income and Education Levels
Historically, low-income individuals spend a larger percentage of their income on gambling compared to wealthier players. That’s also true for the online casino industry.
In Kenya, for example, the majority of online gamblers are aged 18 to 25 years. Most of them come from low-income families. They participate in iGaming not only for entertainment but also to supplement their income.
In Australia, low-income individuals spend the largest percentage of their money on casino games. However, it’s the rich who truly splash money on casino games.
In Canada, the rich gamble a lot more money than those who earn less. The average Canadian gambler makes $75,000 per year and has a college education. In Kenya, the typical gambler is either in college or has no university education.
Indeed, the average bet size in Kenya is $1.80. By comparison, the standard casino player in the UK spends up to $100 per session. When it comes to frequency, European players place a bet every three days. In emerging economies, the typical bettor places a bet every two days.
Motivation to Gamble Online
Online casino players play slots, poker, keno, blackjack, and other games for different reasons. In developed countries like the US, Canada, the UK, and Sweden, entertainment is the primary motivator.
Gamblers tend to agree that casinos are hard to beat. So, they play slots, bingo, or poker for the fun of it. In developing African countries like Nigeria and Kenya, the majority of casino players seek money.
The difference in motivation also affects a player’s frequency of gambling. People who gamble for entertainment play less often compared to those who do it for the money. It makes sense. Someone not interested in money won’t spend everyday gambling. But for a player who treats gaming as a source of income, they can bet every day.
Either way, the most successful online gamblers are people who bet strategically and follow a budget. Strategies help a player determine the best games to play, the best time to gamble, and when to cut losses.
