Online Gambling involves placing bets on games of chance and skill for money on the internet. It’s important that adults recognise when children and young people may be engaging in these behaviours – and act accordingly.
The high level of accessibility to gambling websites and apps makes online gambling more addictive than offline casinos. Psychological strategies such as immersive graphics, sounds and visual cues encourage frequent and prolonged gambling sessions. Additionally, intermittent reinforcement schedules that include rewards for successful outcomes can increase the addictive potential of gambling.
Gambling can have negative consequences on an individual’s life, including financial strain, emotional stress, and deterioration of work or academic performance. It can also cause social isolation, as individuals withdraw from friends and family to focus on gambling activities. This can lead to depression and anxiety, and cause problems in relationships.
Mood changes are a common sign of gambling addiction, with people experiencing heightened feelings of euphoria when winning and disappointment and frustration when losing. These mood changes can have a significant impact on their daily lives and make them more vulnerable to other unhealthy habits, like substance abuse and eating disorders.
There are a number of treatment options for people with an online gambling addiction, including therapy, support groups and medication. Therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can help people to understand the underlying causes of their addiction and develop more effective coping mechanisms. Medication can be used to reduce the severity of cravings and help with other underlying mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.