Internet Gambling

Problem Gambling

Seung Min Lee

Gambling is not a new phenomenon; California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) states that in the pastime, gambling was a huge contributor to the economy as it went through three waves including in the 1800s when gambling was often tolerated and when Nevada legalized casinos during the Great Depression in 1931 (2012). Although, internet gambling is recent, the events in the history regarding gambling have caused a great expansion in today’s society. In this paper, the dangers, extent, reasons, and treatment options of online gambling will be discussed. First, let’s note that online gambling is a controversial issue with many proponents, both pro and con.

Far more Americans play illegal games and the number of gambling sites that cater to these players has soared over the last few years, from a mere 700 in 1999 to 2,400 in 2006 (Miller, 2006). One reason behind this quick expansion of online gambling is the accessibility. Not only can one gamble in casinos, but now, you can gamble online during break time, waiting in line, and even in the quietest places. The internet made it possible for people to gamble 24/7 without ever leaving their home. Gambling has become more accessible with the help of development of Internet. Throughout this paper, the focus will be on commonality of internet gambling among college students and one study reported that among 1356 undergraduates, 23% reported ever gambling on the Internet, with 6.3% reporting internet gambling weekly (Petry & Weinstock, 2007).

Another finding from this study was discovering who is participating in gambling online. Internet gamblers were more likely to be male, Caucasian, and from one campus than non-internet gamblers. They also had lower grade point averages and higher income than non-gambling, and is associated with financial difficulties, emotional distress, and psychiatric problems (Petry and Weinstock 2007). Another study stated that “compared to those who have...