The Current State of Knowledge on Online Gambling Risk and Protective Factors

Online Gambling is the process of using an internet connection to place bets on games of chance. It is a popular activity that can be done from the comfort of one’s own home. The popularity of this type of gambling has increased over the past two decades. This has led to many people developing gambling addictions, which can have a negative impact on their lives. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available for individuals who have a problem with online gambling. These include therapy, support groups like Gamblers Anonymous, and medication to manage underlying mental health conditions.

Some of the most common effects of online gambling are financial problems, loss of control, and poor work or study performance. Additionally, gambling can have negative impacts on family and relationships. This is especially true when gambling becomes addictive, as the gambler may isolate themselves from friends and loved ones to continue gambling.

Young people are often more at risk of developing an online gambling problem. This is due to their greater exposure to gambling advertising, social media, and influence from family members. Young people are also more likely to be exposed to online gambling during periods of pandemic lockdown, as was the case during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In order to examine the current state of knowledge on online gambling risk and protective factors, a systematic literature review was conducted in three academic databases. The search was limited to peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2020. The search terms used in PubMed and PsychInfo were (ab(online, internet, interactive) AND ab(gamble, gambling, addiction) OR (risk, protective, predictor, correlate).