Online Gambling is the practice of playing casino games, sports betting, lottery-style games, and more using a computer, smartphone, or tablet. It is a multi-billion industry with rapid growth worldwide, even though it’s still under-researched and poorly regulated.
Among the reasons for this is that it can be easy to hide gambling activity, and there are risks involved in online platforms such as unfair odds, rigged games, and delayed or non-existent payouts. The lack of face-to-face accountability and social interaction can also intensify addictive behavior.
Most people who gamble online use smartphones, although PCs and laptops are also common. The number of accounts held by those who gamble has remained fairly stable, and the majority of people who gamble online are aged 18-24.
In the past year, the most popular form of online gambling was lotteries, with 9.5 billion dollars being spent on these games in 2021 alone. However, it’s important to remember that online gambling is not just about the money. It can be very dangerous for some people, and can lead to addiction or serious financial problems.
There are many options for treatment of online gambling addiction, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs. Inpatient rehabilitation is best for moderate to severe addiction, and is usually a 30 day or longer program. Outpatient rehabilitation is more suitable for mild addiction, and involves attending classes and counseling sessions at a rehab center but not living there. Depending on the type of addiction, some patients may require detoxification or other medical intervention before beginning treatment.