The Risks of Online Gambling

If you are considering playing games of chance online, you should be aware of some of the risks. Online gambling addiction can lead to many issues and can be incredibly difficult to overcome. There are different types of gamblers, some of which only get addicted for a short time and lose interest. Others, however, can develop a significant addiction that interferes with their social and professional lives, and even their ability to carry out basic tasks. In these cases, help from an online gambling website is often inadequate.

A number of regulatory bodies exist in the online gambling industry. While not every site is a member, memberships to these organizations mean that the site is legitimate. The eCogra organization is a regulated industry arm that helps to protect consumers from rogue operators. The European Gaming and Betting Association, or EGBA, is an industry organization comprised of six privately owned sports betting companies. The G4 group has a specific goal: to protect players from problem gambling and promote a fair gaming environment.

In the 1990s, the number of online gambling websites grew from fifteen to more than 200. In 1998, online poker rooms were introduced, and the revenue generated by online gambling exceeded $830 million. In 1999, multiplayer online gambling became available. By 2001, 8 million people were using the internet to gamble. By 2008, the market for online gambling reached $21 billion, and in 2015, the total win from online casinos was $400 billion. There was no government control until the advent of the Internet, but the online gambling industry has exploded and is now an integral part of our society.