Approximately 7 million to 11 million people in the United States meet at least one criterion for gambling disorder, according to the National Problem Gambling Hotline. However, a large part of them are women who struggle to find adequate help, facing stigma, lack of knowledge about treatment, or lack of social support.
More Research Is Needed on Women With Gambling Problems
According to the organization’s 2025 annual report, women accounted for 29% of all individuals who contacted the helpline. Considering another study from earlier this year found that gambling is becoming more popular among women, we may see this percentage rise in the near future.
Jody Bechtold, a gambling addiction expert and CEO of Better Institute of Pittsburgh, said women are frequently overlooked in discussions about gambling addiction. She emphasized that many women are struggling with gambling problems and that greater attention and discussion are needed to address the issue.
Christina Cook founded The Broke Girl Society, a podcast and support community created to help women struggling with problem gambling. According to her, women may experience gambling-related harm more quickly than men, a phenomenon known as “telescoping.” Cook also questioned the reliability of data based primarily on helpline use. She noted that limited funding for gambling research can leave gaps in understanding the issue, particularly among younger people who may be less likely to seek help through helplines.
Why Do Women Have More Difficulty Finding Help for Problem Gambling?
Jodi Axe, clinical director at Allied Addiction Recovery in Pittsburgh and a gambling counselor, said that when women do not seek treatment for gambling addiction, they may experience increasingly severe mental health consequences. She explained that untreated gambling problems can contribute to broader mental health challenges and place additional strain on the healthcare system. Axe also noted that compulsive gamblers who do not seek or continue treatment face a heightened risk of suicide.
Based on her professional experience, Axe said women may express different feelings about the consequences of gambling than men, which can make it more difficult for them to connect with support groups that are often male-dominated. She said women may also feel pressure to fulfill traditional roles as caregivers, providers or shoppers within their families.
Axe added that many women feel trapped by their gambling problems and believe there is little hope for change. She said women often fear that disclosing their gambling problems to their families could lead to divorce or strained relationships with their children, which are concerns she hears less frequently from male clients.