The advent of online gambling spawned a whole new category of gambling: “online casinos.” While it seemed like a brilliant end-run around governmental regulation, it also made it easy for anyone with a web browser to find and wager on sites. While regulators are now catching up to online gambling, rogue operators are still finding ways to operate without the necessary oversight. To combat this problem, the Department of Justice and Congress have begun to explore online gambling regulations.
In addition to sports betting, online casinos offer more games than simply sports betting. Players can choose from either a casino’s software client or an assortment of “instant” games they can play in their browser. While some sites offer only one or the other, the majority of online casinos offer both options. The quality of each option can vary from site to site. If you have any particular country’s laws, check them before registering at an online casino.
While it’s hard to resist the urge to place a bet, there is help available. Individuals can contact their doctor or seek help from a gambling addiction support group. Internet gambling support groups are available in many cities and states. Those in need of help can try searching for local programs by city or state names. If you cannot find any of these groups, you can always contact Gamblers Anonymous or another gambling support group. If none of these options work for you, there are many other options available.
The United States is among the few states that have legalized online gambling. Other countries, such as Hawaii and Israel, have passed laws regulating the industry. However, these laws usually focus on prohibiting the operation of an online gambling business rather than the actual gambling. Moreover, most states have enacted laws regarding sports wagering. So, make sure to check your local laws before making a final decision. This is important because some states don’t want their citizens to become addicted to online gambling.
One study found that more than 400,000 Swedish male youth gambled online at least once in the past year. Despite COVID-19, sports betting continued to thrive even after these countries implemented their own laws. In contrast, the majority of respondents to this study also accessed online gambling at least once a month. That is a pretty high proportion for online gambling. However, the numbers don’t suggest that these individuals are more susceptible than the general population.
As with any study, it is difficult to generalize the findings to all types of gamblers. The authors of the present study relied on self-report data collected by a market survey company. Therefore, the reported data may not be representative of land-based gamblers. Nevertheless, it was comparable to other studies on online gambling behavior. The authors note that the study is limited by the fact that it focused on a specific type of online gambling and a smaller percentage of the general population.