Online Gambling refers to gambling on casino games, sports betting, lotteries and fantasy sports via digital platforms. It’s a billion dollar a year business and a popular pastime, but it can also lead to serious harms, including addiction. Like other types of addictive behaviors, it can disrupt family, romantic and work relationships and can cause feelings of withdrawal when a person tries to cut back on gambling.
While most people think of bricks-and-mortar casinos when they hear the term ‘Online Gambling’, the industry is actually much more varied than that. It’s comprised of online casinos, social gambling apps and virtual lotteries. It’s a fast-growing industry and it’s no surprise why – it offers players the same thrill as traditional casinos, but without any physical limitations.
To play online casino games, you need a computer or mobile device and an internet connection. Once you’ve made an account, you can deposit money into it and use that to gamble for real cash prizes. The best part is that you can win as much as you want, and your winnings are automatically credited to your account.
The US federal government has not prohibited online gambling, but individual states have passed laws regulating it. New Jersey, for example, was an early adopter of iGaming and has a strong reputation as an iGaming leader. In addition to regulating the sites and apps that offer online gambling, New Jersey is also one of the only places where it’s legal to place wagers on virtual sports events.