A problem gambling specialist in the UK, Liz Karter, told The Independent newspaper over the weekend that online gambling is becoming more attractive to women than drugs or alcohol, and that professional women in particular are turning to online poker as a stress reliever.
The author of a newly published book on the subject, Karter says that a wide cross-section of society is represented among the women she treats, and they are often from backgrounds where they have suffered domestic abuse or damaging relationships.
Almost three-quarters of her clients are single parents or living alone, she revealed.
The explosion of online gambling advertising following the 2005 Gambling Act, has had a negative effect on patient recovery, she claims.
“Historically, women have been more inclined to be machine players, like the traditional slots,” says Karter. “I’m now seeing a crossover to online gambling which is a particular problem because accessibility is so easy via smartphones or tablets.”
The Independent quotes Gamcare statistics showing that half of all women callers to its helplines had problems with internet gambling compared to a third of men, a 44 per cent increase on 2011 figures.