Online gambling has become an estimated $9.5 billion per year industry, with a variety of websites and apps offering casino games, sports betting, poker, fantasy sports, and lotteries. While some online gambling activities can be harmless, others can have serious financial and emotional consequences for some people. The ups and downs of gambling can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and a sense of loss that can disrupt personal and work relationships. Some individuals may also become socially isolated as a result of their online gambling activities, spending less time with friends and family and more time gambling alone.

Although a number of individual factors have been found to influence gambling, very little attention has been paid to the contextual and relational level. Some articles suggest that having fewer and poorer quality relationships is associated with online gambling, and the presence of academic issues in life contexts seems to increase the likelihood of online gambling among university students (Mihaylova et al., 2013).

Gambling-related problems can cause damage to the family, workplace, and health, and it’s important for individuals to recognize these symptoms and seek help before their behavior becomes problematic. Treatment options for gambling addiction include therapy, support groups like Gamblers Anonymous, and medication to manage underlying mental health conditions. In addition, many gambling sites offer self-exclusion options that allow individuals to block access to their account for a certain period of time. This can be a helpful way to reduce the risk of addiction by creating a barrier between an individual and online gambling opportunities.