In May 2018, the State of New Jersey began a court case to legalize online gambling. The outcome of the case is still uncertain, but the future of the online gambling industry in New Jersey looks bright. This article provides an overview of the legality of online gambling in the US. It also discusses the impact of problem gambling on Internet gamblers.
Research on disordered Internet gambling
Recent research on disordered Internet gambling indicates that people who engage in online gambling are more likely to experience financial and mental harm than non-gamblers. The researchers also found that problem gamblers reported greater physical difficulties and neglected personal obligations. They hope that these findings will lead to effective prevention and intervention.
Nevertheless, the researchers noted that online gambling environments have many positive aspects, including a potentially supportive environment for responsible gambling. For example, online gambling sites can offer player-focused tools and resources to help players manage their spending, such as self-spending limits and time outs. Additionally, operators of online gambling sites can take proactive measures to assist their customers, including providing tailored notifications based on patterns of behavior and an analysis of player account data.
Despite these positive findings, more research is needed to determine whether Internet gambling contributes to gambling problems in general. Although Internet gambling participation is on the rise among young people, researchers are unsure whether Internet gambling is a factor in problem gamblers’ development.
Legality of online gambling in the US
Legality of online gambling in the US is currently a hotly debated topic, but some states have decided to allow it. Since the 1990s, when online gambling was still a relatively new phenomenon, some lawmakers have tried to pass legislation to regulate it. Jon Kyl and Bob Goodlatte introduced bills to the Senate that would restrict online gambling to horse races and state lotteries. But these bills have yet to pass.
Until recently, US state laws regulated gambling. However, in recent years, gambling activities have grown rapidly in Native American territory. Internet gambling has extended the gambling strategy and threatens to bring gambling into private homes and businesses.
Impact of problem gambling on Internet gamblers
The impact of problem gambling on Internet gamblers is a complex issue. The prevalence of problem gambling in Internet gamblers is higher than among non-gamblers, and problem gamblers report more spending and use of electronic funds than their non-gambling counterparts. Moreover, they report greater involvement in problem gambling, and are more influenced by incentives and perceptions of advantages.
The study results are consistent with those of previous studies, which have shown that individuals with problem gambling are more likely to engage in hazardous gambling behaviors. However, the study did not determine whether the COVID-19 crisis caused the increase in problem gambling behavior. Rather, it looked at whether the COVID-19 crisis had a positive or negative impact on problem gamblers.
Problem gamblers were found to be more likely to report increases in Svenska Spel machine gambling and online casino gambling than their non-problematic counterparts. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups when it came to other forms of gambling.