Online Gambling is gambling conducted via the internet, including virtual poker and casino games. It also includes sports betting and keno. Online gambling is legal in many states, with the notable exceptions of Utah and Hawaii due to their deeply religious populations.
It is possible for an individual to become addicted to Online Gambling, just as it is with other activities such as alcohol and drugs. Addiction to Online Gambling often has serious repercussions for the gambler’s life, from relationships and finances to work and health. It can be especially dangerous for people with mental illnesses, as they may use gambling as a distraction from their symptoms or a way to pass time.
Research suggests that the emergence of gambling problems is related to a range of factors, not just the frequency and amount of gambling. These include a person’s motivation to gamble, whether they have a history of problem gambling or not, and the type of gambling they engage in.
The nature of the Internet offers a potential strong environment for responsible gambling, including player-focused tools and resources (such as expenditure tracking, self-set spend limits, and time outs) that can reduce gambling harms [2, 5]. However, to be effective, these strategies need to be designed with consideration for the specific characteristics of the Internet. Further research is needed to explore the relationships between early risk indicators, behavioural data from multiple sources, and gambling-related harms. It is also important to consider the ways that a gambling website promotes their product, such as the amount of free play offered and the number of advertisements.