Online Gambling is a form of gambling where players place wagers on games of chance. These games can be found at a number of different online casinos. Some of these casinos are operated by reputable companies and use secure payment processing services to protect their customers’ personal information. These sites also have software and random number generators that are regularly audited by independent third parties to ensure that they are fair.
The emergence of online gambling has been driven by technological advances, especially in mobile devices. These advances have allowed people to gamble from anywhere with an internet connection. While some governments regulate the activity, others have banned it completely. Regardless of the regulatory environment, online gambling is an increasingly popular activity.
Despite the widespread popularity of online gambling, there is still little research on its effects in the general population. This paper aims to provide a synthesis of knowledge regarding the risk and protective factors associated with this modality. In order to achieve this goal, a systematic literature search was conducted in three academic databases: PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus. The syntax entered in PsychInfo was as follows: (ab(online, internet, interactive) AND ab(gambling, risk factor, protective factor, predictor, correlate)).
The findings from the literature review show that, on the whole, risk factors for online gambling are similar to those for offline gambling. However, the differences in socioanagraphic variables between those who gamble online and those who gamble at land-based venues may warrant the development of new prevention interventions specifically designed for online gamblers.