Online Gambling is a type of gambling that takes place on internet-based platforms, such as casino websites, where users can access various games using their computers or mobile devices. It is often considered to be a more addictive form of gambling than offline gambling, and this is partly due to its high level of accessibility and the anonymity that it offers. The addition of psychological strategies, such as visual and auditory engagement, intermittent reinforcement schedules, and varying levels of risk-reward, further add to the addictive potential of this activity. This can lead to pathological gambling, in which individuals become preoccupied with the activity, are unable to control their spending or playing time and are compelled to keep gambling despite negative consequences. These effects can include losing large sums of money, accruing debts, and poor performance at school or work.
A major drawback of this form of gambling is that it can be very easy to conceal. This means that many young people can develop an online gambling addiction without their parents realising it, especially if they use pseudonyms when making deposits and withdrawals. This makes it important for trusted adults to educate children and young people about the dangers of online gambling, as well as how to recognise the signs of an unhealthy addiction.
A number of research articles have identified specific risk and protective factors for online gambling. These can be categorized according to their level of analysis: individual, relational and contextual. The most common factor identified at an individual level is high impulsivity, which is associated with both online problematic and nonproblematic gamblers. However, less is known about the influence of relational factors on online gambling behaviour.