Gambling has become a significant pastime for many Canadians belonging to various age groups, from baby boomers to Gen Z and everything in between.
Understanding the gambling habits of different demographics, particularly older adults and younger individuals aged 18 and over, sheds light on how preferences and behaviours vary across ages.
So let’s explore these trends, focusing on participation rates, spending habits, and the impact of modern technology.
Participation by Age Group
Recently gathered data shows that 60% of Canadians gamble in one form or another every month, which doesn’t differ much from the rest of North America. But, the actual participation rates vary considerably in relation to different age categories.
For example, 45% of younger Canadians aged 18-34 report spending no money on gambling activities. By comparison, the 35-54 age category shows a comparatively greater level of engagement, with only 36% of those surveyed claiming not to gamble at all.
For older adults aged 55 years and above, gambling is considered a popular activity, and most of them regularly spend money on gambling. More precisely, 76% of 45-64-year-olds have gambled in the past year, showing this age group is one of the more active participants in gambling activities.
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Spendings Behaviour
As previously established, the older age group tends to spend more on gambling.
About 45% of those between 35 and 54 years old spend in the range of $1 to $20 per month on it, and only about 3% of Canadians in all age groups reported spending over $100 a month on gambling activities.
Interestingly, that same pattern extends across age brackets: for both younger adults (18-34) and older adults (55+), similar spending for high expenditure on gambling is echoed.
Online versus Live Gambling
Gambling modalities, however, change greatly with age:
Among the youngest, those aged 18-34, 56% of men and 43% of women report having gambled online. This might be because access is very easy through mobile phones and computers. This way of betting has become very popular with the young, as it is very easy with smartphones and tablets.
Older adults are most likely to gamble in traditional settings such as casinos and bingo halls. While many older gamblers gamble online, they seem to like the social interaction required in going to places to gamble. This generation is generally more familiar with land-based establishments, which may explain why they still gamble there more often.
The Role of Technology
Greater accessibility of mobile gadgets, paired with very easy access to the internet, really worked miracles concerning the transformation of gambling in Canada, with over 19 million active online gamblers.
Convenience through mobile applications lets people gamble whenever they wish, regardless of where they might happen to be. Precisely, it was this shift that brought an increasing involvement of the young demographic with the practice of gambling through the virtual spaces online.
But that is not to say that the aged adults also did not get wiser with new changes in technologies. They often try betting and online gambling with mobile gadgets but also miss the social surroundings associated with actual casinos.
Reasons Behind Preferences
These are due to various factors that account for the demographic trends in gambling habits.
Younger adults get attracted to digital platforms because of the thrill associated with quick rewards from online games. Fast-moving online slots or sports betting correspond to their lifestyle.
On the other hand, elderly people may gamble for entertainment or social reasons. As people approach retirement or experience more free time, they may seek out activities that engage them and provide them with pleasure. Besides, many elderly people find comfort in familiar places.
Overall, while younger Canadians, 18-34 years, gamble less frequently and show a preference for online platforms, the older demographics of 55 years and above show higher participation rates and a preference for traditional forms of gambling.
Technology has been instrumental in creating new trends; through mobile devices and access to the internet, it reshaped the market significantly.
With this data collected, it wouldn’t be difficult for different industry stakeholders to shape their offerings according to audience needs and preferences. Given that gambling in Canada will continue to develop, the above-mentioned points must be considered in the future, whether by operators or regulators.
