March 16, 2020
Online gambling is often seen as a male dominated sector. Poker and sportsbook are heavily associated with men, and while female participation is growing, it’s still true that more men gamble than women. In the igaming industry, the prevalence of software and digital skills which attracts higher numbers of male candidates, means that some teams lack gender diversity.
However, things are changing. As gambling has moved from bricks and mortar casinos to online, more women are getting involved. Female players now make up 28% of players, and deposit more cash on average over the year (in more regular, smaller average amounts than men). Which means that operators that don’t focus on their female customers are missing a trick.
In terms of working in the igaming industry, data from the All Diversity project surveyed 25 betting and gaming companies and found that around 47% of roles were held by women. However, it’s a different picture as you move up the corporate ladder. At manager level, the gender split widens to 60% male versus 40% female, growing through head of department (70% to 30%), director or C-level (78% to 22%) and CEO or MD (83% to 17%). Meanwhile the gender pay gap stands at a median of 9.6%, only a 0.1 percentage point decrease on the previous year.
However, the igaming industry has made several positive steps to becoming a more inclusive environment for women, with awards like the ‘Most Influential Women’ from iGaming Business, or the Women in Gaming Diversity and Wellbeing Awards, both of which showcase the careers of successful women. And though there could certainly be more female leaders, the industry has some great visible role models, such as Britt Boeskov, Chief Experience Officer from Kindred, or Melissa Blau, founder and director of iGaming capital.
If you’re a woman working in the igaming industry, the future looks bright as the industry continues to champion women and work towards greater equality. As an individual there are plenty of positive steps you can take. Here are our top 5:
1) Be your best, authentic self. Simply giving 110% dedication to your job and team, is the first step to career success. Pretending to be someone you’re not, or acting in an uncollaborative way to get ahead won’t do you any favours in the long-run.
2) Support and champion other women, through mentorship, sponsorship or by peer recognition. Studies show that women are less likely to self-promote than men (sound familiar?) so do your bit to bridge the gap by giving shout-outs to deserving female colleagues. You may even find they return the favour.
3) Negotiate that payrise. Unfortunately, the gender pay gap still exists and many women are being paid less than their male counterparts. Avoid this by keeping track of your salary and don’t be afraid to ask if you think you deserve a payrise. Here’s our top tips on getting the payrise you deserve.
4) Be bold. Don’t be afraid to take ambitious opportunities. A study by HP found that women tend to apply only to jobs where they meet 100% of the requirements, where men are comfortable applying where they only meet 60%. Be conscious of your potential self-critical bias and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
5) Always be networking. Networking is always good career advice, but if you’re a woman in an industry such as igaming that lacks female leaders, it’s worth building connections with senior women or men who could act as a champion for your career progression. You could also join or start a female talent network in your company.
Are you a female igaming professional looking to further her career, or simply looking to hire talented women onto your team? We’d love to hear from you. Connect with us here for more details.