People love generalizations. They make things simpler and let’s be honest, we are more comfortable with simple things than with complicated ones. That’s why we love categorizing everything so much.
You must have heard or read about “gamblers” who love this and hate that. But who are these gamblers? After all, gambling attracts quite a diverse crowd, doesn’t it? The fans of Stake Slots don’t necessarily have a lot in common with keen poker players. In fact, there are at least 5 different gambler types with different preferences, different playing styles, and different habits.
Type #1: The Professional
Just as any expert, a professional gambler treats gambling as a serious business. They are skilled, strategic, and often specialize in games that aren’t purely chance-based (e.g., poker or sports betting). They love to study patterns, odds, as well as to feel as though they are in control (at least, partially) of the outcomes.
The professional’s profile:
- Motivation: Earning a living.
- Engagement: High.
- Risks: While potentially profitable, this type requires discipline.
Example: A poker player who lives off tournament winnings and spends days honing their skills and analyzing previous games is most likely the professional gambler type.
Top 3 games for the professional type:
- Live Baccarat by Pragmatic Play;
- Live Casino Hold’Em by Evolution;
- Blackjack by Stake (Stake Originals).
Type #2: The Social Gambler
These gamblers mainly view gambling as a recreational activity. They typically love slots, roulette, or crash games. For example, in Aviator, there’s an in-built chat feature. And that’s just superb for the social player. That’s why they are into it. Plus, some casinos have live chats (not ones for support but ones for players’ interaction) and these are likewise a draw for this gambler type.
The social gambler’s profile:
- Motivation: Entertainment and social interaction.
- Engagement: Moderate.
- Risks: Low.
Example: You’ve probably met people who visit a casino during vacations. Or, ones who attend a weekly poker night with friends. They view it as a way to catch up and have fun. These are typical social gamblers.
Top 3 games for the social gambler:
- Aviator by Spribe;
- Stake Poker (Stake Originals);
- Live Mega Roulette by Pragmatic Play.
Type #3: The Serious Social Gambler
A purely social gambler (the one we reviewed above) is here for fun. A serious social gambler is likewise here for fun but not only that. These gamblers seek satisfaction that comes from victories. Or, not necessarily victories but those situations, where they’ve managed to show their skills. Such players normally have a good understanding of the game (which is not always relevant for purely social gamblers).
The serious social gambler’s profile:
- Motivation: Excitement plus the chance to win.
- Engagement: Regular but not excessive.
- Risks: Moderate.
Example: Imagine a person who’s a regular at online bingo nights. Do they love the thrill of the game? Of course! Do they want to win? Sure! Will they spend more than initially planned on it? Hardly ever. These players are thrilled about gambling games but they prefer to stay within the limits.
Top 3 games for the serious social gambler:
- Extreme Texas Hold’Em by Evolution;
- Walking Wilds Bonus Buy Battle by Titan Gaming;
- Enhanced RTP Gates of Heaven by Pragmatic Play.
Types #4: The Compulsive Gambler
The name speaks for itself in this case. It’s the only gambler type that is destructive. Players that belong to this type wager on games and events not because this makes them happy but because they can’t do otherwise. Most commonly, psychological help is required to understand the roots of such gambling.
The compulsive gambler’s profile:
- Motivation: An urge to gamble that can be hard to control.
- Engagement: Very high.
- Risks: High.
Example: A person who doesn’t stop gambling after they have lost several times in a row is likely to be the compulsive gambler type.
Type #5: The Casual Gambler
Finally, the opposite of the compulsive gambler is a casual player. The latter participates in gambling simply for fun and does so infrequently. Such players usually pick a game randomly, don’t care about strategies, and don’t have any particular purpose in mind. They are here to get their portion of fun and… forget it.
The casual gambler’s profile:
- Motivation: Purely for occasional entertainment.
- Engagement: Sporadic.
- Risks: Very low.
Example: A person who makes a couple of spins in a jackpot slot, because the latter has caught their attention, may be a casual player. They usually do so without regularity or any strategy in mind.
Top 3 games for the casual gambler:
- Jackpot Terminal by BGaming;
- Beheaded by NoLimit City;
- Wheel (Stake Originals).
How Do You Know Which Type You Fit?
If you want to determine your type, the most straightforward way to do so is to read the examples above and analyze whether any of them describes you. If they don’t seem to be related to you, reflect upon
- Why you gamble — motivation
- How often you gamble — engagement.
Then, look at the table below to see if you fit in any of the five types.
| Type | Motivation | Engagement |
| The Professional | money | ★★★★ |
| The Social Gambler | fun + communication | ★★ |
| The Serious Social Gambler | fun + communication + wins | ★★★ |
| The Compulsive Gambler | irresistible impulses | ★★★★★ |
| The Casual Gambler | occasional entertainment | ★ |
Sometimes, it may turn out that you are a mixed type. Most commonly, it’s relevant for players with low engagement who seek fun and social interactions from gambling. In that case, they fit the casual type in terms of engagement and the social type in terms of motivation.
So What? Why to Know Your Gambler Type
So why would you want to know your gambler type? Isn’t it just a fun exercise in self-discovery? It is. But along with it, it’s also a pretty useful exercise that opens some cool opportunities for you.
Most notably, when you are aware of your gambling tendencies, you can manage your money more cleverly. If you’re a professional, for instance, you’ll need a detailed financial strategy to keep the stakes high without spending all you have. Put simply, you can understand the risks your gambling type implies and prepare for them.
Plus, when you understand your motivation, you can better understand how to make your experience more enjoyable. This, however, is relevant not only to gambling.
