The increased availability of online gambling platforms has changed the way gamblers engage in gambling. These sites offer more betting options, faster feedback, and the convenience of gambling from the comfort of your own home. But they also have the potential to harm.
Many state officials worry that Internet platforms can bring illegal gambling into their jurisdictions. Some states have banned the use of online gambling. Other states are working to legalize and regulate it.
Research is needed to determine the link between internet gambling and gambling problems. Problem gamblers are more likely to consume alcohol, have high rates of drug use, and engage in other behaviors that may affect their lives. A number of studies have looked at problem Internet gamblers, but there is still not a comprehensive picture of the nature and causes of this problem.
Studies have shown that some Internet gamblers have a pathological relationship to their gambling. These problem gamblers have higher rates of alcohol consumption, self-harm, and disability. However, not all highly involved gamblers are at risk.
In 2007, 6 percent of the British population used the Internet to gamble. This figure is expected to rise.
Researchers have found that Internet gambling is associated with a higher rate of problem gambling. Although the relationship between Internet gambling and gambling disorder is uncertain, it is likely that high levels of accessibility will increase disordered gambling.
One study of problem Internet gamblers by Gainsbury, Russell, Wood, Hing, and Blaszczynski found that some Internet gamblers have a prior history of problem gambling. They found that problem gamblers tend to prefer land-based forms of gambling to Internet gambling.
