There is a lot of buzz about online gambling, especially sports betting. In fact, nearly half of the states have legalized online sports betting. Online poker, on the other hand, has a low speed and relative profitability and is not a priority for most legislators. As a result, online poker is often tacked on to larger gaming expansions.
Legalization
While many states have argued against legalizing online gambling, others say that it will boost economic activity and bring billions in tax revenue. In addition, legalized online gambling will give consumers more freedom over their pocketbooks. But the legalization debate is a complex one. It should not be dismissed without thorough consideration.
The debate over legalization of online gambling dates back to the late 1990s, when two senators, Jon Kyl and Bob Goodlatte, introduced bills in the US Senate to make online gambling legal. These bills would have restricted gambling activities online except for those related to horse races and state lotteries.
Regulation
Regulation of online gambling is a complex issue, with a number of unique challenges. The most serious concerns are the safety and protection of vulnerable players, such as children. UK law recognises this as a key issue, but there are still loopholes and problems for vulnerable gamblers. Despite the presence of the Gambling Commission, many websites are not regulated.
Regulation can protect the public by ensuring revenues are generated while avoiding gambling-related problems and crimes. One way to do this is by restricting the types of online games available. An example is the Norwegian government’s 2007 ban on slot machines. Several years later, the government of Norway introduced regulated online interactive games. In 2014, this government-run website offered casino games and scratch cards, but excluded poker. It also offered responsible gambling tools, such as budget calculators and personal loss limits.
Impact on problem gamblers
The impact of online gambling on problem gamblers is not well understood. Although some studies have linked online gambling with problem gambling, other studies have not. One study found that internet gamblers are more likely to be male, younger, and more educated than those who do not gamble online. These individuals also have higher risk of psychological and health problems.
Moreover, a House of Lords report said that in the UK, half of adults gamble on a monthly basis and a third of them are considered problem gamblers. These individuals cause harm to at least six other people, including victims of crime and homelessness.
Longitudinal research
Longitudinal data on gambling is crucial to the understanding of the problem. They provide detailed insight into individual gambling trajectories, states, and problems, which cross-sectional prevalence data cannot. The lack of longitudinal data on gambling prevents researchers from accurately assessing the overall impact of gambling on individuals’ lives. In addition, stable prevalence rates do not allow the researcher to distinguish between the same group of individuals gambling at one time and those who gamble differently over time. Furthermore, longitudinal studies allow researchers to assess the potential benefits and challenges of new gambling research, as well as the feasibility of expanding the current data collection.
Previous longitudinal studies have revealed several risk and protective factors for problem gambling, but the age ranges used are too large. The study also fails to examine the entire adolescent period, which is a critical period in which the risk of problem gambling is highest. However, the study is the first to explore these factors in a Spanish population. Moreover, the results of the survey may not be representative of all adults in the country, since gambling was legalized in 2011.