More Canadian Women Pick up Gambling According to Study

Study finds that more women in Canada Indulge in gabling activities.

Updated on 04/02/2026

A recent study has shown that more women have adopted in online gambling in the Province of Quebec for the first time. The research involving more than 4,500 respondents in the province showed that more women picked up online gambling during the pandemic. However, men still take up more of the gambling space than women.

What Did the Research Determine?

Researcher Sylvia Kairouz, a Concordia University’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology professor, states that although gambling is generally associated mostly with men, women also have the potential to face gambling addiction. While women are more interested in games of chance than other forms of online gambling, men prefer poker and table games. This makes women face more risk than men when gambling.

According to the survey carried out in 2021, women often play games like online slots and lottery or scratch to relax during their leisure time, and even the best online slots in the market can have issues. However, men are more interested in having more thrilling gambling experiences. Also, women play longer games involving lower stakes because they feel hypnotized playing them.

Another report by Statistics Canada in August 2022 showed that more women buy instant lottery tickets or play bingo than men. The same research showed that women are at 1% risk of having addiction problems, while men are at 2% risk of developing gambling addictions.

Even with more women developing interests in online gambling, most surveys and studies are still centered on men’s gambling activities. Ms. Kairouz believes that subsequent studies should also focus on the phenomenon of female addictions instead of generalizing it. This will give women a better representation of their gambling activities during surveys.

Gambling Awareness: Staying in the Green

At CanadaCasino, we believe that the best way to enjoy online gaming is to stay informed and in control. In the Canadian market, gambling should always be viewed as a form of paid entertainment, much like a movie ticket or a hockey game—never as a source of income.

The Golden Rules of Responsible Play

To keep your experience positive, we recommend following the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction:

Set a Hard Budget: Only wager what you can afford to lose. Once that “entertainment fund” is gone, it is time to log off.
Time Management: Use your phone or casino tools to set session timers. It is easy to lose track of time when you’re on a roll.
Avoid “The Chase”: Trying to win back losses is the most common pitfall. Accept a loss as the “cost of play” and walk away.
Play Sober and Focused: Never gamble when you are stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or substances.

If you ever feel that gambling is no longer just entertainment, it’s important to know that help is available. Independent organizations like GambleAware provide free, confidential advice, tools, and support for anyone looking to understand their gambling habits better or seek professional help.

What Did the Research Determine?

Gambling Awareness: Staying in the Green

The Golden Rules of Responsible Play

Read more News