Online Gambling is an industry that has rapidly grown in popularity since the ’90s. But while it offers many benefits, including the ability to play anytime, anywhere, it can also have its drawbacks.
For instance, many gamblers develop gambling addictions and find it difficult to quit. This is especially true for those who gamble in online casinos, where the games are more complex than those found at land-based gambling establishments. In addition, the fact that online gambling is quick and easy to access makes it more likely for people to gamble more frequently than if they had to travel to a bricks-and-mortar casino.
As a result, the number of problem gamblers is increasing. Some of these problems are associated with the development of a pathological mode of gambling, while others are related to psychological well-being and a variety of other factors. To investigate the knowledge about the risk and protective factors of online gambling, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and PsychInfo databases limited to peer-reviewed articles. The syntax entered in PsychInfo was (online, internet, interactive, risk factor, protective factor, predictor, correlate).
Fraud is another major issue for online gambling. For example, criminals use phishing and social engineering to trick victims into funding their gambling accounts through phone top-up services, and they steal money directly from unsuspecting players. Moreover, combating fraud takes time and resources, which may affect the overall efficiency of the gambling platform. Moreover, high chargeback rates can damage relationships with payment processors and limit deposit options for players.