Risk and Protective Factors in Online Gambling
Online Gambling is a digital activity where real money is used to gamble on games of chance via the internet. Players use their personal account, called a bankroll, to place bets on different games of chance. If they win, the winnings are added to their bankroll; if they lose, their losses are deducted from their bankroll. Depending on their preferred gambling style, people can choose from many different types of games.
Despite the fact that a great deal of research on risk and protective factors in gambling has been conducted, it remains difficult to identify a universally applicable model. This is especially the case for online gambling, which differs in its nature and characteristics from offline gambling. The present paper attempts to reorganize the current state of knowledge by using the method of PICO (Population Intervention Comparison Outcome). This method allows the analysis of the risk and protective factors at three levels: individual, relational and contextual. In this context, two comparative analyses were selected: the comparison between nonproblematic and problematic gamblers and the one between online and offline gamblers.
While most online gamblers report that they only gamble for fun, some of them have serious problems. In such cases, the secretive and dishonest behavior associated with online gambling can affect relationships with family and friends and lead to significant emotional or financial consequences. In addition, gambling is often a way to cope with underlying issues, such as anxiety or depression. Therefore, identifying and treating these underlying issues is an important step in the treatment of gambling disorders.