Online Gambling is a digital activity where real money is wagered on games of chance through the Internet. It shares many features with other types of addictive behaviors such as substance addiction and gambling disorder (a subset of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling). As in other forms of addiction, it may interfere with a person’s work or school performance, disrupt personal relationships, cause financial problems, lead to legal issues and health complications. Some individuals may resort to illegal activities such as theft and fraud to fund their gambling habits, which can further complicate their lives.
While the majority of studies in this field evaluate a person’s level of problematic gambling, a few have examined risk factors at an individual and contextual level. In terms of personality traits, high impulsivity is often associated with online and offline problem gambling. Furthermore, some studies indicate that women are more likely to gamble than men. However, gender differences in gambling based on the type of game played are not well established.
As regards life contexts, some studies indicate that being a student may increase the likelihood of online gambling. Other studies report that people who struggle in academic life are more likely to become problematic gamblers. Finally, some studies indicate that a lower income is linked to online gambling. However, research on this topic is scarce, and further investigation is required to clarify the impact of these variables. In addition, it would be useful to identify and detect early risk indicators for online gambling problems.