Online Gambling is the activity of placing bets on a variety of events via the Internet. It began to gain popularity in the 1990s. In 1998, there were only 15 gambling websites, but by 1999 that number had grown to over 200. In the US, the first multiplayer online casino games were introduced in 1999.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing an online gambling problem. These include genetic predisposition, a family history of gambling addiction and co-occurring physical and mental health problems. In addition, the easy accessibility of gambling products via digitalization and commercialization (e.g., sponsorship and association with popular sporting leagues) increases the likelihood of uptake.
Harms from gambling include relationship breakdown, family violence, financial distress and stigma. Gambling is also a common method to launder money obtained through illegal activities and can contribute to the erosion of civil institutions. In many cases, the money used to gamble is diverted from essential household spending, leading to food insecurity and difficulty accessing healthcare and education.
In the United States, legislation on online gambling has varied widely, with some state legislatures allowing and others banning various forms of gambling. The United States Department of Justice has taken a harder line on online gambling, and in 2021 it instructed Google and Yahoo to remove advertising for gambling sites. The decision came in direct contradiction to a Appeals Court ruling that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting, not other types of online gambling.