Online communities and groups that focus on gambling are increasingly popular. These communities/groups attract users who share their ideas and interact with like-minded others. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine: (1) the role of online communities and groups in gambling behaviours; and (2) the link between online communities/groups and problem gambling. The authors found 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Overall, online communities are used for a variety of reasons (e.g., discussing gambling experiences and problems, sharing tips, celebrating wins with others). Online discussion forums are also sources of support for people who gamble and their significant others. Active users of online gambling communities are more likely to be at-risk or have problem gambling. But a greater sense of belonging to offline groups can buffer the effect of online gambling community participation.
