Online Gambling has become a global phenomenon, and is growing rapidly. While online gambling is legal in most countries, it can cause harms. These include financial distress, relationship breakdown, family violence and mental illness. It can also contribute to corruption and the erosion of civil institutions. It is also a vehicle for money laundering and criminal activities such as theft and fraud.

Online gamblers use various websites to play a variety of casino games, including slots machines, blackjack and roulette. These websites feature RNGs (random number generators) to produce random outcomes and simulate the unpredictability of a physical casino. Independent auditors verify these RNGs to ensure fairness and transparency. Online gambling sites also accept a variety of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards.

Some research indicates that certain characteristics may increase the likelihood of online gambling. For example, one study found that women were more likely to be problem gamblers. Another study indicated that those who had rare and negative relationships were more likely to gamble. Lastly, a few studies reported that those who gambled during university could be more likely to become problem gamblers.

However, the current literature has a number of limitations. For instance, most of the studies investigated nonrepresentative samples. Also, most of the studies were cross-sectional rather than longitudinal. Hence, more research is needed to establish the causal relationship between factors. It would also be helpful to examine the effect of online gambling on a wider population.