A Review of Online Gambling Risk Factors and Protective Factors

Online Gambling is a form of gambling that takes place on the Internet and involves betting on games of chance. It is a global phenomenon that has grown rapidly in recent decades due to increased access to the Internet, the proliferation of electronic devices, and changing legal and regulatory environments. Online gambling can have a detrimental impact on health and well-being. It can cause financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness and can be used as an avenue for criminal activities (theft, fraud). The harms caused by online gambling are exacerbated by the rapid normalization of the activity through commercialization, digitization and sponsorship, and by advertising and promotional efforts. In addition, many countries that regulate online gambling do not adequately protect vulnerable gamblers from predatory practices.

Despite these concerns, the growth of online gambling continues, with competition among sites, new demographic groups entering the market, and a number of countries legalizing and regulating the industry. Online gambling is particularly appealing to young people, as many online casinos feature virtual worlds where users can gamble without the need for real money. This is particularly true for “skin betting,” where players bet using virtual credits earned in the game.

This review examines current state of knowledge concerning risk and protective factors of online gambling, as outlined by the PICO framework: Population Intervention Comparison Outcome. Specifically, risk factors and protective factors at the individual, relational, and contextual levels were investigated. A total of 42 articles were included in the review, based on a literature search conducted in PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus.