The Rising Dominance of Women in Social Gaming Circles
February 21, 2025

History suggests that the gaming arena—a blanket term for competitive games, casino games, sports betting, and non-gambling games—is dominated by males. However, a large and growing number of players are female. This is particularly true in the United States, where almost 50% of active players are women.

Take classic Las Vegas games as a case in point. Only in the last twenty years or so have we seen a paradigm shift in the way slot, card, and table games are accessed. Previously, these entertainment attractions were the purview of fixed locations, such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, and so forth. Today, a huge chunk of players enjoy these games online.

Women comprise an essential segment of the gaming world. The number of female video game players has ballooned in recent years. This data, courtesy of ESA and ISFE, attests to what many already know. Almost half of all active gamers at casinos and social casinos are female. In terms of demographics, the most likely gamblers among females are those aged 35–54 years, at 32%. Their preferred games are classic slots.

The introduction of social casino games with no gambling whatsoever has facilitated a sharp uptick in the number of female players. Women are often trendsetters with the latest accoutrements, including smart phones and tablets, fads and fashions, and so forth. It comes as no surprise that women take to these popular free slot games in their droves. This gaming industry is barely a few years old, but already it’s making waves across the United States, continental Europe, and beyond.

What Motivates Women to Play Social Casino Games?

Women are motivated by the thrill of these games, just like men. This is particularly true of social casino games like slots, blackjack, and live dealer games. Whether it’s the fast-paced appeal of action-packed casino tables, or a forum that provides for much needed alone time – women love the social gaming scene. Among the many benefits available to female players are the 24/7 accessibility, sociable milieu, and opportunities for handsome rewards.

Unbeknownst to some, but known to many, social casino games can handsomely reward players. Whether it’s hybrid games of skill and luck like blackjack, or pure games of chance like slots – wins are always a click away. And when players select sweepstakes coins as their preferred virtual currency, real money rewards are a distinct possibility. That’s because these non-gambling games require a threshold of sweepstakes coins to be met before cash-outs are possible.

Source:  Statista Daily Time Spent with Casino Gaming Apps Worldwide as of February 2024

With zero risk and maximum reward, there is always something in it for players. Statistics compiled by leading stats portal Statista indicate that the worldwide social gaming market was estimated at $6.2 billion in 2020. The pandemic-induced increase plateaued in 2022, but the industry remains vibrant.

In North America (February 2024), the daily time spent with casino gaming apps in minutes per day was 17.2 minutes for females and 18.2 minutes for males. The highest figures in this regard are in Oceania, with 20.5 minutes for females and 23 minutes for males.

Fast Facts About Women in The Video Gaming Arena

*	Growing Presence: Women comprise 45% of all gamers, signaling a more balanced gender representation in the gaming industry.
*	Mobile Gaming Preference: 44% of female gamers play exclusively on mobile platforms, highlighting mobile gaming's popularity among women.
*	Casual vs. Core Gamers: 44% of women consider themselves casual gamers, 16% more than men, while only 24% of women identify as core gamers.
*	Diversity in Games: 62% of female gamers value diversity in gaming, aligning closely with male gamers (65%), pushing for more representation in characters and storylines.
*	Rise of Female Protagonists: More games now feature female lead characters, such as Ellie (The Last of Us), Aloy (Horizon: Zero Dawn), and upcoming titles like GTA VI.

Women are making their presence felt in all competitive games worldwide. We see it in sports where female pugilists  command bigger paydays, increased television viewership and more media attention than ever before. The tide has certainly turned!