Research shows that online gambling can contribute to the development of problems such as gambling disorder. However, research still needs to evolve to understand the full impact of online gambling. There is currently no single index that can predict whether a person will have a gambling disorder. However, there are several ways to assess whether an individual may have a gambling problem.
The growing number of smartphones and internet connections have increased the popularity of online gambling. This increased usage of digital platforms is expected to fuel market growth in the near future. China, India, and Japan are among the countries that are expected to witness a rapid growth in the industry. Leading players in the online gambling industry are focused on developing innovations to remain competitive. These innovations include mergers and acquisitions, product launches, and partnerships.
While federal gambling laws are largely state-based, their application to the Internet has spawned several legal challenges. The Commerce Clause and First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech have been challenged, but have had limited success. Commerce Clause doubts are largely satisfied by the commercial nature of gambling, while free speech objections have been weakened by the limited scope of First Amendment protection. Due process arguments also suffer when financial transactions are involved.
Online gambling can cause serious problems for problem gamblers. The rapid feedback, large bets, and constant availability of the Internet can contribute to excessive gambling. Further, online gambling can disrupt sleep patterns.