Women in the online casino industry: Breaking the glass ceiling

Notably, the casino industry has long been a male-dominated domain. However, this trend is gradually changing, with several women stepping up in the field, breaking the proverbial glass ceiling.

In this article, we’ll examine the opinion of Alyce Fabel, CasinoRIX’s expert, on the breakthroughs of women in this industry. We’ll also highlight how we gauge each online casino on specific parameters and examine some solutions to ensure more female participation in the sector. 

The current landscape of women in the online casino industry

Statistics reveal that 36% of the UK gambling population is made up of women. While men make up the majority, the trend of women in this industry is gradually changing, with significant strides being made to change the status quo.  

But that’s not all. Female contribution to the casino industry isn’t limited to playing games alone. Women also occupy several marketing and leadership positions within this sector. It becomes clear that women are increasingly influential in shaping the industry’s future.

For instance, Denise Coates is the founder and CEO of Bet365, a well-recognized gambling platform. Sarah Robertson is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Kindred Group, another major company in the global online gaming industry. 

Erika Nardini is another notable example in the online casino landscape. She’s previously worked in executive roles at Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL. Today, she’s the CEO of Barstool, a popular online gambling platform, where she continues to thrive.

These are just a few of several big female names making significant strides in the casino industry.

Challenges faced by women in the online casino industry 

To date, women continue to face several challenges that limit their impact in the industry. While this trend is slowly changing, these obstacles must be tackled to open more opportunities for women in the casino industry. 

Gender stereotypes

Gender biases are some of the most notable obstacles faced by women in the casino industry.  Many families and peers often criticize women who play online casinos, which are traditionally seen as a male activity.

Even within gambling institutions, these biases unconsciously affect key decisions such as promotions, hiring, and workplace dynamics. This often hinders the progress of women in lead positions.

Work-life balance

For women leaders in the casino industry, there’s a struggle to balance work and personal life. This is because such women face the added weight of biased societal expectations along with family responsibilities.

Notably, inclusive policies, such as maternity leaves, need to be in place to support and encourage women in leadership positions within the casino industry.

Moving forward: How to support and encourage more women in the industry 

The first step to supporting and encouraging more women in the casino gaming industry is to battle the gender stereotype of gambling belonging exclusively to the domain of men. 

To this end, mentorship programs can help, serving as a way to promote the idea that women can also thrive in the industry, whether as avid casino gamers, marketers, or executives in gambling institutions. 

Change should also come from gambling companies. These institutions should emphasize more diversity in leadership, leading to more capable women leaders in the industry. This will result in a broader range of experiences and perspectives, which can boost innovation within the betting sector.

Finally, it’s important to implement inclusive policies within the casino gaming industry to support women better. For instance, parental leaves and flexible work arrangements can create a more supportive environment for women to thrive in leadership positions.

More women in the casino gaming sector

Over the years, women in the casino industry have faced gender biases. However, the trends are gradually changing. In the future, the implementation of inclusive policies within the industry, coupled with mentorship and networking programs, will encourage more female participation and growth in the casino gaming sector.