Online Gambling is the use of a computer, tablet or smartphone to place wagers and win prizes. This type of gambling is available in many forms, including sports betting, virtual casinos, poker, and even lottery tickets. However, it is important to remember that there is a risk of fraud associated with online gambling. The risks can be in the form of account takeover (ATO) fraud, bonus abuse, and credit card fraud.
Despite the risks, online gambling continues to grow in popularity. There are currently more than 200 online gambling websites, with the most popular being sports books and online casinos. This rapid growth has also led to an increase in fraudulent activity. In the United States, there are a variety of ways that individuals can commit fraud related to online gambling, including account takeover (ATO) fraud, promotion abuse, and credit card fraud.
While some studies have shown that Internet gambling does not lead to problems in and of itself, others show that it is a common component of disordered gambling. It is widely acknowledged that the impact of Internet gambling on problem behaviours is a function of a number of individual and contextual variables, and research in this area is ongoing. For example, a new category in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was included to recognise non-substance addictions such as disordered gambling. This new classification will be a framework for future research into this behaviour.