Online gambling, which encompasses casino games, sports betting, lotteries, and skill gaming, is a $9.5 billion per year business that can be addictive for millions of people. It is often difficult to know whether gambling is a problem, but it shares many of the same warning signs as other addictions, including disrupted family, work, and social relationships, financial difficulties, and feelings of withdrawal when trying to cut back or quit.
Gambling may also lead to legal problems, such as embezzlement or fraud. In addition, it can cause physical health issues, such as insomnia and high blood pressure. Finally, it can have psychological and emotional effects, such as a decrease in appetite and depression.
Unlike video game addiction, which is thought to be caused by specific characteristics of the game itself, gambling disorder is linked to harmful patterns of thinking and behavior. While further research is needed, early identification of risk indicators may help reduce gambling-related harms.
While attempts to pass federal legislation to ban online gambling have failed, individual states have begun to regulate the industry. Some have banned it, while others allow certain forms of online gambling for their residents. Other types of regulation are aimed at service providers, such as payment processors, advertisers, and website developers. Those who are trying to stop gambling online can try a variety of treatments, including counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Identifying and managing triggers is also important. In some cases, medications may be helpful.
