Online Gambling is betting on a variety of games and events over the internet, including casino games, sports bets, lottery games, and even poker. While it is legal to gamble in many countries, it’s important to understand the laws and risks before you begin gambling online.
The proliferation of online gambling opportunities has increased the likelihood of harms related to its use, particularly among people with lower socioeconomic status. Easy accessibility increases uptake, especially in areas of higher disadvantage, and advertising and marketing drives normalization through sponsorship or other association with popular sporting leagues, the colocation of gambling products in social settings, and aggressive promotion on social media. In addition, research shows that gambling products have been found to promote risk-taking and impulsivity by activating circuits in the brain associated with reward and stress processing.
Furthermore, the inability to monitor a user’s activity and the proliferation of accounts facilitate money laundering risks. Criminals can transfer funds between accounts to obfuscate the origin of deposits and withdrawals, or they may use stolen credit cards or cryptocurrencies to deposit and withdraw funds without the gambling platform’s knowledge. The differences in financial crime laws between jurisdictions can also create loopholes for criminals to exploit.
The most effective strategies for mitigating gambling-related harms are those that prevent the emergence of problem behaviour in the first place. This requires strong regulation of the industry, including a focus on design and product features that deter excessive consumption, and clear messaging conveying warnings about the risks of gambling. Universal pre-commitment systems (requiring people to set binding limits on time and/or money spent gambling) and self-exclusion schemes are the most effective tools for supporting a healthy gambling culture.
