Online Gambling is the act of placing bets on different types of gambling games over the internet. To start playing online gambling you have to create an account by filling a form on the website with your details and depositing money (if you are betting real cash). When you win, your winnings will be sent directly to this account. In addition, there are also many games that you can play for free without depositing any money at all.
The popularity of gambling online has grown rapidly in recent decades due to its accessibility and wide variety of games offered. Moreover, the growing number of smartphones and tablets has allowed users to play at any time, regardless of their location or physical constraints. Despite these benefits, online gambling has several negative consequences. These effects include monetary losses, financial debt, and emotional distress. Additionally, online gamblers often experience health problems such as poor sleep and weight gain.
Some online gambling sites have a self-exclusion option, which allows a user to restrict access to their account for days, weeks or even months. This option may help you regain control of your addiction by removing the temptation to gamble. However, this is not a foolproof solution. Some sites still offer a tempting temptation to gamble and you should be careful when choosing an online casino.
Despite the recent growth in online gambling, only a limited number of studies have focused on the risk and protective factors associated with this activity. This study reviewed and synthesized the existing literature on these aspects. Risk and protective factors were analysed at three levels: individual, relational and contextual. Two types of comparisons were considered: comparing offline and online gamblers; and comparing online problematic and non-problematic gamblers.