Online iGaming and sports betting are booming across the globe. Yet they present unique risks not inherent in physical wagering and casinos.
In France, they do it for a paltry 5.23 hours a day. In the US, it lasts 6.4 hours a day, though Russians manage an astounding 8.38 hours. That is, of course, the average time spent on a screen. These devices are highly addictive and have become so ingrained in our modern life that we can even experience anxiety when separated from them. When combined with other potential high-risk pursuits such as gambling, the dangers become something players must be aware of.
Searching Out Platforms That Protect You
When it comes to online operators, offshore gambling platforms are one of the biggest risks. As they are not regulated and licensed, they may have poor security or just be outright unfair. Many of them look just like legitimate casinos on the surface, causing confusion among visitors and especially new players. If you use them, you may find your games seldom produce a win and even if they do, you may not be able to cash out what you have won.
More worryingly, some of them target players who are at a high risk of problem gambling. A piece in The Guardian newspaper in December 2025 highlighted how many of these casinos are actively trying to find people signed up to Gamstop, the United Kingdom’s self-exclusion scheme. By signing up, people can ban themselves from licensed sites in the United Kingdom, with half a million people in the country already using the service. The article documented one young man’s path starting at the sign up for an introductory offer, to gambling addiction, drug use and ended with a sad and fatal outcome.
Not all offshore sites operate like this, but to avoid any operators that do, it is best to research any platform you are considering using. Third-party sites that rank and review are always a great place to start, such as CasinobonusCA. While finding the best offers is their main priority, they also provide information on transparency, fairness and customer service. They are often a good barometer of how a casino operates, ensuring it does not prey on those who may be stumbling into problem gambling territory.
The Fascinating Psychology of Online Gambling
For too long, gambling addiction has been put down to people seeking a dopamine hit. The story goes that the brain releases chemicals which provide a momentary high when people place wagers, which eventually becomes addictive. While true in some cases, research is now showing that this is a dated notion, and much more complex factors are at play.
A study for Nature Reviews Neuroscience found that dopamine can increase slightly when people have addictions to alcohol. However, it found little evidence that cannabis and opiate addiction do. This made people rethink how addiction, along with reward patterns, works. Instead, evidence now suggests that addiction may be related to the activity levels in certain areas of the brain at any one time, particularly the sections that deal with stress management and learning.
All of this suggests that gambling addiction is more than being someone who has an ‘addictive’ personality. Instead, a complex web of issues can lead anyone to become a gambling addict. This can result in people experiencing mood swings, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem or shame.
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A Financial Faux Pas in Online Gambling
Just like a credit card, having modern-day e-wallets and digital payment methods creates a sense of detachment from money. This is one of the key components of why online gambling can be more dangerous. When you go into a physical bookmaker’s, you are part of a process in which you have to travel there, make decisions on the way and then perform a physical action of paying. With online bookmaking, you simply scroll and click. Even in casinos, you have physical chips that represent currency and you can hold their tangible value in your fingertips.
A study at MIT involved a silent auction, which took place at the Sloan Business School. It provided tickets for sold-out NBA basketball games. Half of those taking part were told they could only pay in cash, while the others were told they could only use a credit card. On average, those paying by card bid twice as much as the cash buyers. This psychological effect is endemic when you play games online.
Psychological studies have also proven that people feel more hurt when they lose money than they do the equivalent joy when winning the same amount. This can result in a fiery combination, which can drive players to chase losses and burrow deep into their personal finances to do so.
Just How Much More Addictive Is Online Gambling?
This begs the question, “Is online gambling more addictive than traditional gambling?” and the answer is that it just might be. In a study conducted at the University of Western Ontario, 20 in-house casino gamblers and 10 regular online gamblers were tested. Each was given pictures as stimuli to gauge how they perceived gambling, with online players acting much more aggressively.
A more modern study from Laramie County in Wyoming reiterated that this still applies, in some cases even more so. It found that online gamblers who use mobile products are more likely to suffer relationship issues, mental health problems and financial insecurity. Young men between the ages of 18 and 29 were found to be the highest risk group, with the reasons cited as the way online gambling reduces the friction and thought processes needed to play.
This ‘reduction in friction’ stems from some very common issues arising from mobile usage in general. Firstly, access is provided 24/7. This means you don’t have to wait for a casino to open, or even fit it into your schedule as a night out. You can spend the whole evening there without leaving your sitting room, or visit in a stolen 10 minutes of the commuter rush.
Another side effect of this is that online gambling can be very private. Your friends, workmates and family know if you are visiting a bookmaker multiple times a day, or if you are spending every hour in the casino. Yet when you play on a mobile device, that is not the case. They may think you are doing other gaming, doomscrolling, or reading the news.
Lastly, online gambling is much better at tempting people in and luring them back. Modern gambling advertising is pushing products into the face of consumers all the same time. This is either through web pop-ups, email marketing, sports sponsorship or television ads. In fact, gambling has become hard to escape in some places. With bonuses designed to attract players and keep them gambling, it is much easier for online providers to get customers hooked.
The Countries Combating Online Gambling Harms
Those countries with established, regulated markets are the ones at the forefront of this. As they can see firsthand the damage being done, they are often in the best position to combat it. The UK is one of these, and it is constantly adapting based on research and studies.
Its latest evidence was presented by GambleAware. They have labelled current laws around gambling advertising “poor”, particularly when it comes to protecting minors. Anna Hargrave, a CEO at the organisation, added that “Gambling operators invest significant resources into online marketing because it works at getting people to gamble more. This has resulted in children and young people being exposed to gambling content online at an age at which they can critically evaluate it and understand the risks that come with it. The current regulations covering gambling marketing and advertising online were designed before most children had easy access to the internet. Urgent action is needed to update these rules and bring them into the digital age to help keep children and young people safe from gambling harm.”
The survey found that 79% of underage respondents actually want more information about gambling on social media, as did roughly the same number of adults. This correlates with a previous study conducted by them, which found 85,000 minors in the United Kingdom have experienced gambling harm from engaging with the sector.
Spotting the Signs of Problem Gambling
Your family and friends will probably notice the signs that you are a problem gambler before you do. However, if you are concerned about your levels of use, then that alone is a sign you should stop for a short while at least.
Chasing losses is a big red flag. This is when people keep gambling to win back money they have lost. It never works, as the house always has an edge that keeps it profitable. Gambling should always be a form of entertainment, not a way to win money.
Any sort of preoccupation with gambling is also a sign. If you begin to think about it at work or in your leisure time, it is an issue. This becomes even more of a problem when you become withdrawn, cancelling activities and carving out time especially for gambling. This is when it begins to impact your social and professional life.
Online gambling is not inherently dangerous in itself. It is like any pastime: Done in moderation, it is a leisure or entertainment pursuit. Yet the format of digital interaction presents many new dangers that previously did not exist. It gives a 24/7 pathway to a casino, with privacy and ease of use as a given.
If these boundaries are not respected, then psychological and financial risks ensue. This respect must not just come from the individual, but also from the gambling industry itself. All of this reiterates the need for a regulated sector to oversee this and ensure players are kept safe.
