WOMEN AND ONLINE BINGO
A LOOK AT WHAT DRAWS THE FEMALE DEMOGRAPHIC TO ONLINE BINGO
Just as slot machines and roulette wheels have found their new form on digital platforms, so too has the game of bingo. Once a social pastime that was confined to village bingo halls, church halls and parlour rooms, this convivial and easy game has made its way to the world of online casinos, bringing with it its female audience.
Bingo has done immensely well for itself online, thanks to the more private environment and flexible nature it offers to female gamblers and female bingo aficionados alike. However, there are certainly other factors contributing towards online bingo’s surge in popularity among women. Let’s take a closer look at these.
ONLINE COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
What has always secured female players’ loyalty to bingo both online and offline is its social aspect. Bingo differs from other forms of solitary gaming, in that it requires more than one player for there to be a winner. Aside from online bingo’s competitive nature, it’s very common for online casinos to set up chat rooms where players can discuss, interact with each other and make friends during their gameplay.
Online casinos also create themed events, social activities and special bingo games to help foster a more communicative environment for players. This is a huge draw for women, who are usually more sociable players than men.
FLEXIBILITY, INCLUSIVITY AND ANONYMITY
The shift from land-based bingo spaces to online platforms ran parallel to the evolution of women’s lifestyles and routines. Online bingo is especially appealing to women with busy schedules, as it’s a flexible and accessible game mode that allows for female players to get their bingo on whenever and wherever it’s best for them on any device they may prefer.
The bingo hall has always been a hallmark of female solidarity and intermingling. This aspect of bingo made its way to the online sphere, where women from all backgrounds and anywhere in the world can enjoy the game of bingo in an inclusive online environment. Moreover, online casinos tend to give their bingo games a relaxed and welcoming feel, in tandem with the anonymity and security awarded to online players. This creates a safe and comfortable space for women to just focus on the game, without any types of concern.
LOW STAKES WITH JUST AS MUCH ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
As we’ve just mentioned, online bingo games foster a friendly and community-centred space that stands in contrast to some more male-dominated casino games that require higher financial stakes. Some women may be looking for a more relaxed but equally engaging gameplay through which they can unwind and be entertained by a relatively low-stakes game, compared to other options offered by online casinos. This lower financial barrier renders the game more accessible and less risky, and studies have shown that women tend to take fewer financial risks when it comes to online gaming.
TRADITION AND NOSTALGIA
Statistics indicate that women make up 78% of all online bingo players, and the majority of this percentage falls between the ages of 35 and 64. This is a mixed bag of boomers, Gen Xers and millennials, all of whom potentially have sentimental ties to bingo.
Boomers may have shifted their gameplay to the online form after years of attending bingo halls with their parents and their peers, while Gen Xers and millennials may have been taught the game by their grandparents, or played bingo in a warm and familial environment during family gatherings or nights out with friends. What attracts women to online bingo is the game’s history and its tradition, and female players’ online participation keeps them rooted to their past and the memory of their loved ones.
REWARDING LOYALTY AND THE PLEASURE OF CHOICE
Similar to online retail patterns seen in female online shoppers, female players see the appeal of the many ancillaries and rewards offered by online bingo games. Female bingo players like that they can shop around and benefit from a wide range of game options during their online bingo experience, and online platforms know how to cater for women’s different bingo preferences.
Female bingo players enjoy the choice of various themes, patterns, minigames and styles of bingo they can indulge in when playing online, and bonuses such as loyalty programmes, bonuses and rewards keep the gameplay fresh and exciting for women playing online bingo. Such incentives help to maintain the interest of female bingo players, and also add to their conversation and interaction with other online players.
KEEPING IT CASUAL WITH ONLINE BINGO
Online bingo delivers a relaxed and casual gaming experience for female players. In contrast to traditional casino games that involve complex rules and strategies, bingo remains an uncomplicated and easy game to play. It’s the perfect option for female players who don’t wish to be overwhelmed by having to learn a new skill or understand sophisticated regulations.
Bingo does not require prolonged attention or intense focus, rendering it an ideal gaming environment for women who need a break from multitasking and problem-solving. Online bingo is also a great environment for female players who don’t wish to be overstimulated by the vibrant ambience of a land-based casino or indeed a land-based bingo hall.
GAME DESIGN AND THEMES
As part of their marketing strategy, online bingo game designers know the power of using colourful graphics and popular themes not just to attract a female audience, but to also foster a communal feel that will bring female players together during their gameplay. They put together elements that will appeal to and resonate with women, and this customised marketing strategy ensures that the female player remains central to the online game of bingo, whilst also creating talking points for them within the game’s online chat rooms.
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
