Online Gambling is an industry that offers individuals the opportunity to gamble without leaving their homes. It is a multi-billion dollar business with many sites catering to specific markets, including sports, casino games, and virtual lottery games. Some states have made it legal to gamble from home, but others have restrictions or outright bans. Some people may develop a problem with online gambling, and it is important to recognize this issue early on so that they can take steps to reduce their gambling activities and seek help if necessary.
In order to investigate knowledge about risk and protective factors of online gambling, a systematic literature review was conducted using three different academic databases. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles and used the syntax (pubmed / psychinfo): (gambling / online, internet, interactive; risk factors; protective factors; predictors; correlates).
Findings suggest that the risks of online gambling are associated with easy access to products, advertising and promotion that can lead to normalization. In addition, the presence of opportunities to gamble in high-risk areas increases the likelihood of uptake. This is facilitated by the colocation of gambling products with other types of entertainment and through sponsorship or other forms of endorsement of gambling in popular leagues, social media and other settings.
Individuals who are at risk for gambling problems should consider talking to family and friends about their concerns. They should also try to identify underlying mental health issues that may contribute to the problem and seek professional help if necessary. Self-exclusion options, such as those offered by many gambling websites, are also available and can be a useful tool for limiting online gambling activity.