The Dangers of Gambling Online
The Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addiction recently conducted a study on the topic of gambling online. The goal of these studies was to collect empirical data on the subject. Researchers worked with bwin, a popular European online gambling site, to collect data on tens of thousands of players over two years. The results of this study showed a clear unifying theme – a small subset of players exhibited intense gambling behaviors.
It’s important to keep a few important safety measures in mind while gambling online. First, gamblers should stay in a social setting. Using computers at home is a bad idea because it increases the risk of falling victim to identity theft. Similarly, gambling online through an unknown website can lead to device damage or identity theft. Also, be aware of websites’ origin, as they might contain malicious software. Second, you need to know whether gambling online is legal in your state.
Some countries don’t allow gambling online. This means that creators of such sites must operate outside the United States. Gambling online is legal in most states but some are not. In the United States, online gambling is restricted to poker and casino wagers. However, some states allow gambling online in certain circumstances, so check the laws in your state first before you sign up at a site. You should never risk your identity by playing illegal gambling.
Most online gambling sites offer a free version of their games to introduce new visitors to the site and practice. Once you’re confident about the site, you can begin playing for real money. To ensure your safety, most sites offer bonuses of 5% to 20 percent of the initial deposit. These bonuses must be wagered two to three times in order to withdraw the winnings. If you win, your winnings are deposited into your online account or mailed to you via certified check.
While there’s no firm data on the size of the online gambling industry, experts believe that it is growing at a tremendous rate. In fact, the number of internet casinos grew from fifty to sixty to more than 700 sites in 2000. In the United States alone, there are now more than two million internet casinos online. However, many of these sites are not licensed by state governments and provide no revenue for social programs. Many of these sites are not even located in the United States.
The legality of gambling online has been questioned in several states. While online gambling is legal in many states, some are still wary. While Nevada and Delaware have legalized online gambling, other states have not yet done so. The US federal government is a big supporter of online gambling. However, despite the growing popularity of online gambling, there are still many legal problems preventing people from enjoying it. Fortunately, it is now legal to gamble in the US – albeit in limited quantities.