Online betting in India has exploded in the last couple of years. Access to high-speed internet and smartphone affordability are two important factors that have contributed to the influx of bookmakers in India. The recent pandemic that has wreaked havoc in the country has also forced Indians to stay indoors and find ways to kill their time. A lot of Indians have resorted to online cricket betting and using sites such as CricketBettingWali.in to find the best odds on their favourite cricket matches.
Important thing to note here is that online gambling is not being enjoyed by the male demographic as more women have started taking it up as well, as sport and as a hobby as well. Yes, you read that right, women are also taking part in cricket betting and while gender bias is a horrible thing, we all have a penchant for pitting the sexes against one another.
Male vs Female Gambling: What’s the Difference?
In a research paper entitled ‘Does gender moderate associations among impulsivity and health-risk behaviors?’ Stoltenberg S concluded that while both men and women gamble, their behaviour patterns are quite different. Men tend to gamble more frequently and register both bigger wins and losses. This is also connected to gambling addiction where 4.2% of al men exhibit signs of problem gambling compared 2.9% of women.
If you are to pit men against women, then the research showed that men are less likely to admit defeat to women and have the tendency to dismiss women gamblers altogether. The study further showed that men are of the opinion that women cannot bluff which in turn hurts their chances of winning at gambling.
Regardless of how men perceive members of the opposite sex when it comes to gambling, the trend clearly shows increased participation by women in India as well. With cricket tournaments taking place on a more regular basis, the sport of online betting has become even more accessible. The Indian Premier League with the exception of this year has turned into a giant of a tournament that attracts gamblers from all walks of life.
Indian Cricketers become Ambassadors
Even revered cricket stars such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have started dipping their toes in fantasy leagues such as MPL and are serving as brand ambassadors for major betting platforms. Their added star power makes it more acceptable for Indians to gamble even though this was once considered as a taboo act not too long ago.
The question that still needs to be answered regardless of the gender bias towards gambling is the state of legalisation of online betting. The Indian government is still relying on a gambling act set before the establishment of the internet. Steps must be taken to legalise online gambling to thwart underworld dealings and also to increase revenue generation for the different states and the country as a whole.
In conclusion, we urge you not to bring gender bias into yet another area of our society and to educate and support women who are willing to indulge in cricket betting. All these actions must be done responsibly to ensure that the gambling community can grow albeit at a healthy rate.