Online Gambling is a digital activity where real money is used to wager on games of chance. Online gambling has become increasingly popular in recent decades due to its ease of access and anonymity. However, some people can develop an addiction to gambling, which can have serious consequences. Recognizing the signs of a gambling addiction is essential to preventing it from progressing. Treatment options include therapy and support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous. In addition, medication can help treat underlying mental health issues.
To investigate knowledge about risk factors and protective factors for gambling, a literature review was conducted in PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus. The search included the terms “gambling” or “online gambling” and “risk factors”, “protective factors”, “predictor”, or “correlate”. The studies included in this review had to meet the following five criteria:
Findings suggest that both personal and contextual characteristics of gamblers are important. Among the personal factors, a lower socioeconomic status was found to be associated with gambling online. Other important factors are the level of education, employment, and income, as well as other coping strategies such as substance use. The risk of a gambling disorder is also related to the type of gambling, the amount of money spent, and the frequency of gambling. However, a person’s personal or social circumstances do not necessarily determine whether they will develop a problem. Therefore, prevention interventions should be tailored to individual needs.
