Online Gambling is one of the most popular forms of gambling, generating billions in revenues. In the United States, online gambling is legal in most states and provides players of all ages and genders with the opportunity to play their favorite games on the internet. The industry is highly regulated and includes rigorous procedures to prevent fraud. Online gamblers are encouraged to keep a close eye on their account activity and report any unauthorized transactions immediately. Using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication can help prevent unauthorized access to an account.

Psychological causes: Research shows that psychological factors such as daily life stresses and underlying mental health problems may contribute to the development of online gambling addiction. Psychologist Sally Gainsbury of Southern Cross University in Australia writes in the journal Current Addiction Reports that online gambling is often used as an escape from negative emotions or events. She adds that studies have found higher rates of coexisting depression and anxiety in online gamblers than in land-based gamblers.

While research is ongoing, it’s clear that online gambling can be a risky and addictive pastime. However, the potential for disordered gambling is mitigated by a wide range of responsible gaming tools and resources, including expenditure tracking, self-set spend limits and time outs. In addition, online operators can enact policies and strategies to identify and address early risk indicators through detailed analysis of player accounts.