women and men gamble? dr venetia leonidaki is a consultant psychologist who works at the national problem gambling centre. so there are some distinct differences between female and male gamblers. one of the most well—known differences is how quickly the gambling disorder can develop in women as compared to men. they may end up being exposed to gambling in their late 20s or early 30s according to the literature, and then within a few years, five years, they may end up developing a gambling problem. how about some of the other psychology behind women and gambling? when it comes to women who are seeking treatment for gambling related harms, the clinical picture is more complex. so women often present with higher levels of psychological distress, or they may meet criteria for a greater number of clinical diagnoses,