Online Gambling is the practice of playing casino games or sports betting through an internet connection. It has become a popular pastime in recent decades and is characterized by its intrinsic characteristics, such as ease of use, anonymity, and variety of available games. This article presents the current state of knowledge about risk and protective factors in this phenomenon. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus to identify articles that met the inclusion criteria. Risk and protective factors were analysed at the individual and contextual levels. Comparisons were made between online and offline gamblers and between online nonproblematic and problem gamblers.
The emergence of new technologies has enabled the proliferation of online gambling, with players accessing a multitude of sites and services from anywhere in the world. Despite the fact that many countries prohibit online gambling, it continues to grow and become increasingly popular. However, online gambling can be a risky hobby, especially for people with gambling problems. Consequently, it is crucial to only gamble on licensed platforms, which guarantee fair play and data protection.
Online gambling is a lucrative industry, with revenues increasing by 12.5% in 2010. Moreover, gamers spent 10% more time playing. This growth is primarily due to the proliferation of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The booming business also resulted in an increase in the number of casinos and gaming websites. In the United States, a number of legislators, such as Bob Goodlatte and Jon Kyl, have introduced bills that would curb online gambling, but they have not yet been passed.