Online Gambling refers to gambling activities conducted on the internet and via mobile phones. It is a multibillion pound industry and is growing rapidly. Increasingly people are playing online casino games, placing bets on sporting events and playing multiplayer games with virtual money.
Despite this rapid growth, it is important to recognise that Online Gambling can be harmful. Like other forms of addiction, gambling disorders can cause disrupted relationships and financial distress, and can lead to feelings of withdrawal when someone tries to cut back. It is also known to cause problems in young people.
Research shows that gambling affects the brain, particularly in areas involved in emotional learning and stress regulation. People who gamble have smaller volumes in the amygdala and hippocampus, compared to non-gamblers. This may explain why gambling is often impulsive and can be addictive.
The number of gambling accounts held on average by people who gamble has remained stable over the past few years. However, younger people tend to hold more accounts on average and use them more frequently. Fraud is a key challenge for online gambling sites, with high chargeback rates leading to revenue loss and straining relationships with payment processors.
There is a lack of global regulation around the way Online Gambling is regulated, with many unlicensed operators offering products to consumers. It is important that governments regulate the industry, ensuring that the products are safe and that users are protected from harm. There is also a need to promote health messages that discourage gambling and highlight the harms associated with it.