What is Online Gambling?

Online Gambling involves betting or playing games of chance or skill for money on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. It also includes video games with gambling elements such as skin betting, and is a growing part of the gaming market.

Online gambling is often easier to access than offline casinos or clubs, and people can gamble from almost anywhere in the world. Its high accessibility makes it a tempting addiction for some people, especially those with underlying issues such as depression or anxiety. People can conceal their gambling activities more easily as well, which can exacerbate problems.

The addictive potential of online gambling is intensified by a variety of psychological strategies. These include visually and audibly engaging elements, and intermittent reinforcement schedules with surprising rewards to keep people interested and engaged. In addition, online gambling can be more attractive to people who are prone to cognitive distortions, such as over-generalizing and exaggerating their chances of winning.

There is limited research into the risk and protective factors associated with online gambling. A few papers have focused on the personal characteristics that are associated with problem gambling. These include a higher level of impulsivity and dysfunctional personality traits in online problematic gamblers, while a greater degree of sociability is associated with nonproblematic gamblers. A few studies have also focused on relational factors. These suggest that low quality and quantity of relationships, and the presence of family members who are problematic gamblers, increase the likelihood of online gambling.