Preventing Problem Gambling Through Online Gambling

Online Gambling is a growing industry in which people wager on casino games and other gambling activities using the internet. It is legal in many countries, including the United States and most of Europe. Online gamblers are attracted to the convenience of being able to place bets from the comfort of their own homes, without having to travel to a casino or adhere to its opening hours. They also have access to attractive financial incentives such as bonuses and promotions.

Despite the wide availability of these online opportunities, many studies have identified high levels of problem gambling among people who play these games. This is driven by the widespread accessibility of these products, particularly in social contexts such as sports clubs and pubs where they are often promoted through sponsorship or other association. Moreover, the advertising of these products can be extremely persuasive. These factors lead to a ‘normalization’ of gambling and increase the likelihood that people will gamble.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of gambling harms are attributed to the actions and behavior of individual gamblers. Therefore, prevention interventions must target gambling-related harms and the related risk factors. In addition to reducing advertising and promotions, it would be important to provide centralized account registration that allows gamblers to set binding loss limits. Also, limiting the time and duration of online gaming and increasing the density of offline gambling opportunities may help reduce problematic gambling behavior. Lastly, there should be strict enforcement of existing gambling laws.