Gambling is a risk-taking activity where something of value is accumulated on the basis of the outcome of a random event. There are three main elements that need to be considered when gambling. Those are the risk, the prize and the strategy. The Internet has made the gambler’s life simpler and more convenient. It also offers a wide range of betting options. However, there is an increasing concern that Internet gambling can lead to problem gambling.
In the United States, laws regulating Internet gambling are still in debate. Some states prohibit online gambling. Others, like Nevada, are working on regulations that will allow gamblers to participate in online gambling. Nevertheless, the number of Internet gamblers is not expected to decline. This is because the market is expected to grow. Online gambling can be safe, fun and lucrative if it is done properly. But, if it isn’t, it can be dangerous.
Research has not yet been able to predict the prevalence of problem gambling, particularly on the Internet. However, recent studies have found that a high proportion of internet gamblers are at risk of a problem. Therefore, research must continue to identify characteristics of problem Internet gamblers.
One study of a European gambling site has revealed a relationship between the level of involvement and the presence of problem gambling. The results suggest that a more involved gambler is at a greater risk of a gambling problem. These findings are interesting because they point to a causal role for some Internet problem gamblers. However, this study is limited in that it relied on a single dataset, and the results might not apply to other gamblers.
Another study has examined the relationship between Internet gambling and mental health. This study was carried out by LaPlante and colleagues. They used a self-report screen and behavioural data to determine whether or not the participants were at risk of gambling problems. A group of highly involved gamblers was compared with a group of low-involved gamblers. While not all low-involved gamblers screened negatively for gambling problems, their overall involvement and the number of gambling activities they participated in in the past 12 months were predictive of the occurrence of gambling problems.
Int Gamb Stud published an analysis of the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey. Although the results of this study indicated that the Internet does not have an impact on the prevalence of problem gambling, they also found that the Internet was not a source of problem gambling. Nonetheless, it may be the next step in a gambling career for the next generation of gamblers.
Despite the fact that research has not identified the underlying causes of the Internet’s problem gamblers, a number of jurisdictions have recognized the benefits of regulation. Regulation is an effective tool to protect consumers and generate taxation revenue. Furthermore, it will increase the availability of tools to prevent problem gambling.
More work needs to be done to understand how the Internet affects the gambler’s mental health. To address this issue, research should focus on how the Internet mode affects the gambling behavior of both offline and online gamblers. Further, it should incorporate a variety of player accounts, which will help in detecting risk indicators.
