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Overview
Since 1995, online gambling has grown rapidly - a trend that is likely to continue as access on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets takes different gambling activities directly into homes and workplaces throughout the world. While base rates are low, online gambling has increased significantly despite the efforts of governments to control or manage access. Online gambling will continue to evolve and change, with competition among Internet gambling sites, new demographic groups such as women and older adults entering the market, and a growing number of jurisdictions legalizing and regulating these activities.
Key Points
Although online gambling offers similar games to traditional land-based gambling, the nature of online gambling may make it an inherently more problematic gambling medium. Greater convenience, easier access, the solitary nature of play, the ability to play when intoxicated, the lack of realistic cash markers, ability to play with credit, lack of age verification, and the ability to play multiple sites and/or games simultaneously are all features that contribute to a diminution in players' ability to control their involvement. On the other hand, the Internet allows for more sophisticated responsible gambling measures than any other way of providing gambling. Internet gambling allows players to limit the amount of money staked and the hours of play. Gambling companies may also implement player tracking systems that warn players if their gambling behaviour appears to become risky.
White Paper
GREO's white paper, Social Casino Games: Current Evidence and Future Directions, gives a more detailed overview of gambling-like online games, which may act as a gateway to actual gambling activities.
Search the Evidence Centre for Online Gambling
Reference
Abbott, Max; Binde, Per; Clark, Luke; Hodgins, David; Korn, David; Pereira, Alexius; Quilty, Lena; Thomas, Anna; Volberg, Rachel; Walker, Douglas; Williams, Robert. (2015). Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling: An International Collaboration Revised Edition. Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO), Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Kairouz, S., Paradis, C., & Nadeau, L. (2012). Are online gamblers more at risk than offline gamblers? Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(3), 175-180.
Deans, E. G., Thomas, S. L., Daube, M., & Derevensky, J. (2016). "I can sit on the beach and punt through my mobile phone": The influence of physical and online environments on the gambling risk behaviours of young men. Social Science & Medicine, 166, 110-119.