Fighting the Problem
As the online casino gambling industry rapidly spreads throughout the world a
key focus and valid criticism is still the fact that problem gambling is a
social issue that has not been fully solved. Although the internet gambling
sites claim they have policies and procedures in place to mitigate the rapid
spread of problem gambling habits, the sad fact is that as internet gambling
allows more people to gamble, there are more gamblers suffering from gambling
addictions – and in some cases the internet gambling sites have been attributed
to general internet addictions as well! There is an inherent flaw right now in
the way that problem gambling is viewed at the online casinos, and even within
the international governments. The internet gambling industry is viewed as
responsible as long as the statistical rate of problem gambling remains similar
to land gambling levels of problem gambling.
What this does not highlight though is the fact that although the rate of
problem gambling throughout countries allowing legal online casinos remains
similar to rates before the implementation of a regulated gambling industry,
there are still a lot of more gamblers suffering from addiction. As more
gamblers head to the gambling sites the same percentage are suffering from some
sort of problem gambling issue – but percentage aside, there are still more
gamblers suffering.
Problem gambling research has really peaked in popularity as a choice issue this
year; as more governments consider gambling regulations as a way to bring in
more revenue to the state coffers, a need for a comprehensive solution to
problem gambling is even more imperative. Right now it is an issue that is often
swept under the table and ignored, and when it’s not, there are still few full
studies and research on just how to treat and prevent problem gambling. |