Online Gambling involves playing games of chance via the internet. Often this involves betting real money and requires an account with the gambling website where players share their bank details to deposit funds and gamble with them. Some states have legalized and regulated this form of gambling, while others have banned it. Players should always stay up to date on the laws of their jurisdiction, as these are constantly changing.
The prevalence of online gambling is growing as more people become comfortable with using the Internet to access services and engage in activities that they would previously have done face-to-face. It is also increasingly common to combine work and home life through the Internet, resulting in increased time spent at websites such as online casinos or social networking sites. This has prompted a shift in the focus of gambling research away from traditional forms of gambling and towards online gambling.
In addition, many individuals are drawn to online gambling due to the allure of financial gain. This is particularly true during periods of economic hardship or stress, where the allure of winning big sums of money can become extremely compelling. This can lead to chasing losses and increased gambling behavior, which can spiral out of control.
To investigate this area of research, we conducted a systematic literature review in three different academic databases (PubMed, Scopus and PsychInfo) to identify relevant studies. The search strategy was limited to articles published between 2010 and 2020 that investigated risk factors, protective factors, predictors or correlates of online gambling.