Online Gambling is the act of placing bets with real money on games that are offered through online gambling websites. These sites use specialized software programs that allow people to gamble with real cash. Many of these sites are run by casinos or sports books. Others are devoted to particular games, like daily fantasy sports. In order to gamble on these websites, people must have a computer or mobile device with internet access.
Some of the most common effects associated with online gambling include monetary losses and debt, which can jeopardize personal relationships and employment opportunities. They also often result in health deterioration, such as poor sleep and irregular eating patterns. Some people even end up selling their possessions to finance their gambling habits.
In addition, online gambling is a popular method for criminals to launder illicit funds. Because online gambling websites do not require face-to-face interaction, criminals can use stolen credit cards or fake identities to place bets and withdraw their winnings, without fear of being caught by local law enforcement agencies.
Several studies have found that different risk and protective factors affect the likelihood of gambling addiction among online nonproblematic gamblers and those with pathological gambling. However, some of the results have been contradictory. For instance, Gainsbury et al. (2014c) reported that chasing losses is more frequent among women than men, while Edgren et al. (2017) reported that the most problematic group is comprised of individuals who are older than those in the least problematic cluster.