Online Gambling involves betting on games of chance or skill for money, using a computer, smartphone or tablet with an internet connection. It is legal in some countries and regions but banned in others. Many people start gambling as a way to relax or socialize with friends but some can become hooked. This is why it is important for adults to understand how to spot when a child or young person is at risk of developing a gambling problem.
Gambling harms include financial stress, relationship breakdown and family violence, addiction, crime (money laundering and property crime) and poor work or school performance. Harms also include mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, and can impact on children. There are a number of ways to reduce gambling-related harm, including population-wide interventions such as ending advertising and promotions and introducing centralized account registration to require users to set binding time and money limits. These should be complemented by universal pre-commitment and self-exclusion systems, which are more effective than voluntary ones.
It is important to note that although the majority of the studies included in this review are cross-sectional, it would be beneficial to conduct longitudinal research to achieve a deeper understanding of the relationships between variables. In addition, the use of nonrepresentative samples in most studies is another limitation, which should be addressed for future investigations. Nevertheless, the results suggest that some aspects that are specific to online gamblers, such as lower socioanagraphic status and low levels of education, need to be taken into consideration when creating prevention interventions for this group.