Online Gambling is the process of betting money on games of chance or skill through an online platform. It is a rapidly growing industry with strict regulation on a state by state basis. The practice is becoming increasingly popular among young people as it becomes more accessible, and more and more online gambling sites are available.

The high addictive potential of online gambling is made possible by the ability to conceal one’s identity while playing, which can increase the impulsivity and risk-taking of players. Additionally, the accessibility of online gambling allows individuals to gamble more often and for longer periods of time, increasing the likelihood of addiction. Finally, the psychological elements of online gambling are augmented by the use of visual and auditory engaging features, intermittent reinforcement schedules, and escalating rewards to encourage players to continue gambling.

In addition to the above, the high levels of anonymity in online gaming create a more favourable environment for criminal activity, including fraud, as they are able to exploit software vulnerabilities and manipulate game outcomes to their advantage. The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the number of people visiting gambling and gaming websites, which in turn prompted criminals to adapt their tactics and fraud rates have since skyrocketed.

Despite its high addictive potential, online gambling is less prevalent than offline gambling, with only 5-15% of adolescents reporting engaging in it. However, the prevalence of online gambling is increasing, especially in countries where it has been legalized. In addition, the popularity of online gambling is increasing with young people as more and more features are added to video games that are considered to be gambling-adjacent behaviours.