The inclusivity of online gaming and casinos and how it benefits the LGBTQ community
In partnership with Extremoo.
Pictures: Unsplash and Pexels
More often we’re hearing how today’s society is evolving much quicker than before. This goes for any subject whether it be politics, social awareness, or environmental standards. Every area of life today is progressing or is faced with the undeniable opportunity to embrace the re-evaluation of stigma.
Although there’s still some way to go, some industries, including the iGaming scene, have taken a transparently inclusive approach. Not only is the UK gaming industry growing in terms of its themes, styles, and gaming possibilities, but it’s also safe and transparent.
For instance, when registering with an online casino all players need to give specific personal details, which are protected as per the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) rules.
A customer of an online gambling platform has the right to not disclose their gender or sexual orientation to the casino. This rule is in the platform’s Terms and Conditions, which, on UKGC verified platforms, follow current UK legislation.
The entire process is so standard that nobody could ever be discriminated against and no player is denied access based on their sexual orientation.
So, at face value, the iGaming market is among the most inclusive industries around. Here, we aim to see why that is and how the industry benefits the LGBTQ+ community.
The progressive side of iGaming
The iGaming industry is available to any adult who owns a computer or a smartphone. The only requirements to be accepted by top-notch online casinos are providing accurate information for the regular identity checks and playing by the casino’s rules. None of these rules mention sexual orientation.
But online gambling vendors in the UK have a genuine track record in actively maintaining the progressive mindset within the industry in more ways than one. Let’s explore how online gambling supports the development of a safe and inclusive society.
Technology makes gambling available to all
Technology seems to set the tone for just about anything today. However, the online gambling industry strives continuously to marry software development with creativity to cater to anybody’s preferences.
You can be a drama lover, a pop-culture enthusiast, a mythology geek, or a classic slots kind of player. The industry’s best game providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, and newer developers create a wide range of game themes to accommodate the tastes of any demographic, including the LGBTQ community.
There is also a significant way online gambling has sorted out any discrimination: it operates solely online. Extremely personal details such as marital status, gender, family, and sexual orientation are invisible in the online environment and irrelevant.
The days when men’s clubs kept all the top-shelf games, prizes, and atmosphere to themselves while outcasts gambled dangerously in dark alleys are long gone.
It doesn’t matter who you are behind the screen. All you need is to provide accurate details that allow the online casino to ensure you are not committing fraud or breaking the law in any way.
The UK Gambling Commission (e)quality control
One significant aspect of the online gambling scene in the UK is its prioritisation of player safety. Each online gambling operator is held to strict standards for fair player treatment by regulatory bodies, independent auditors, third-party transaction companies, and more.
The UKGC is the foremost authority in this respect. It has the right to influence gambling legislation or inflict substantial fees/revoke the licenses of online gambling sites that do not keep up with its criteria.
In this respect, the UKGC imposes a strict player protection protocol. Online casinos must protect all British player data with verified encryption and procedures to avoid any harassment whatsoever, among other things.
Additionally, the UKGC requires that any gambling platform not allow hostile interactions between its members and staff. This includes game chats, emails, live chat, and so on. Staff must also be adequately trained to be helpful, discreet, and inclusive.
So, not only are your wagers, transaction, and funds protected by the UKGC regulations, your privacy is also ensured. Also, every UKGC-licensed casino must provide a crystal-clear Privacy Policy.
Being aware of a site’s Privacy and Transaction policies can tell you a lot about how welcoming the website is to different demographics. Almost all websites on the UK gambling market will be welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ players.
Scientific conclusions: the UK LGBTQ+ and gambling populations
A study from June 2021 found that the estimated number of LGBTQ in the UK for 2019 was 840,000. This has increased by 276,000 in 2014.
At the same time, online casinos are the preferred choice among the British gambling population. The total gross gambling yield is the highest in this area, with over £319 million for 2018 – 2019. All the while non-remote gambling was worth £281.2 million during the same time, and remote betting was worth £212.1 million.
Between 1938 and 1963, a study was conducted on over 10,500 patients from The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. This survey involved:
· 935 LGBTQ men
· 4187 heterosexual men
· 275 LGBTQ women
· 5201 heterosexual women
The study concluded that LGBTQ men gambled less than heterosexual men and LGBTQ women gambled more than heterosexual women.
But such results did not hold.
More and more studies find little to no connection whatsoever between sexual orientation and an affinity for gambling. These days, studies address the somewhat broader marketing question of the difference in consumerist habits according to the diverse lifestyles of sexual preferences and identifications.