It’s not easy to get a clear picture of which generation gambles the most outside the UK. If you research this topic yourself, you’ll find all sorts of contradictory information. Depending on the country in which the research was conducted, the results can vary enormously. One culture is simply not the same as another, and many live dealer games not registered with GamStop have licenses that apply their own regulations. Playing at an offshore casino can have several reasons, including avoiding GamStop and the larger bonus offerings.
United States
A great deal of information comes from across the pond, specifically from the United States. However, only six US states allow online gambling, and four of those six focus solely on sportsbooks. Therefore, most percentages are based on land-based casinos, not online gambling.
There are studies that claim that 54% of the people from Gen X go to gambling paradises like Las Vegas. Another study shows that the percentage of Millennials is actually higher, and that they spend $400 more per year there than Gen X. However, according to the same study, they mainly go to party, not to gamble.
The reason, according to the research, is primarily that Millennials aren’t interested in the many slot machines in Las Vegas. Moreover, they’re well aware of what’s fair and what’s not. They ruthlessly punish casinos for constantly increasing their house edges by spending a lot of money, but not on gambling. Millennials prefer games where they can use their skills and autonomy when gambling. This perhaps explains why Millennials prefer non GamStop casinos over brick-and-mortar casinos when it comes to gambling behavior. These can respond much more quickly to changing trends.
United Kingdom
In the UK, the KSA’s counterpart, the Gambling Commission, found that 48% of the population gambled. The largest group was those aged 45 to 55, i.e., Gen X. However, this included players who only played lotteries. If you eliminate this group, the percentage dropped to 27%, and consisted mainly of Millennials and Gen Z.
The online gambling participation rate was 38% and dropped to 16% when players were removed from betting on lottery draws. When it comes to online gambling, Gen X is the most active, and this percentage has been steadily increasing over the last four years. However, the vast majority of Gen X primarily plays lotteries.
Why Millennials Gamble Less Online at Non GamStop Casinos?
This is the generation that experienced the impact of the internet, and with it, the rise of online gambling. It’s therefore interesting to investigate why millennials are less active when it comes to online gambling. There are several reasons for this surprising result.
- This is a generation that doesn’t play to make money. They play primarily for social reasons, but they also have to work. Therefore, they have fewer hours available in the day for playing, and often also have domestic obligations.
- Millennials understand the odds of winning better than previous generations. They have access to thousands of articles online to inform themselves and base their game choices on this information. They are therefore more critical of games and are more likely to choose not to play.
- When only physical casinos existed, as a Boomer or Gen X, a visit was considered quite special. But since non GamStop casinos entered the market, gambling has become much more normalized. Generally speaking, a new trend attracts a lot of interest, until it slowly fades away again. Millennials were on the eve of non GamStop casinos and have now left this unmitigated fascination behind.
- As a Millennial, you’re less inclined to visit a physical casino. You seek games that challenge you, allow you to utilize your skills and knowledge, and offer a degree of autonomy during play. Land-based and many non GamStop casinos still prioritize slot machines, but in doing so, they risk alienating the largest group that will drive the economy for the next 20 years.
Do Millennials Gamble More Than Gen Z?
The answer is again: No. You see that, when it comes to online gambling behavior, Millennials have only half as many “25% most active gamblers” as Gen Z. Furthermore, in the same figure 9 of the KSA report, the most active 25% is represented by a whopping 84% of Gen Z. In the UK discussed earlier, we see the same trend. In the US, however, Gen Z remains largely out of the picture. This is because online gambling is only legal in six states in America, and only for those aged 21 and over.
Why does Gen Z gamble the most?
The youngest generation of online gamers was born surrounded by digital data. A key trend we’re seeing among Gen Z, for example, is the rise of esports betting. Esports are competitive video games where professional gamers compete against each other in organized tournaments. With lightning-fast action and global appeal, esports has captured the attention of Generation Z. Here are some reasons why Gen Z is drawn to online gambling:
- Social engagement: Gen Z has a huge interest in sports, and they build friendships through online media platforms to discuss betting decisions and trends. The internet offers an infinite world without physical boundaries between players.
- Digital immersion: For Gen Z, metaverse casinos without GamStop are an extension of their reality. In this virtual space, the boundaries between gaming and gambling blur. You can enter an online casino, socialize with friends, or participate in a poker tournament, all within a digital universe that mirrors the real world.
- Skills: Unlike traditional forms of gambling, betting on e-sports, for example, often requires strategic analysis and knowledge of the game, which appeals to the competitive nature of Gen Z.
You might be surprised to learn that Millennials are the least active online gambling users in the KSA survey. It remains to be seen how non GamStop casinos will continue to develop with online gambling for Millennials, as well as the emerging Gen Z demographic.