Online Gambling involves placing a bet using an Internet-enabled computer or mobile device. Users can access a variety of different types of gambling sites, including virtual casinos, sports betting sites and esports betting exchanges. In order to process payments, these platforms require an appropriate level of security, and many use third-party verification companies to validate the random number generator (RNG) used to produce winning numbers.

The prevalence of online gambling is increasing worldwide, as more people are accessing the Internet on a daily basis. Its easy accessibility, which is facilitated by the proliferation of smartphones, desktop computers, and tablets, makes it more pervasive than land-based gambling, while advertising, promotions, and social pressures further encourage participation. Reward system dysregulation, involving neurotransmitters such as dopamine, also contributes to online gambling addiction by activating rewarding feelings associated with the behavior.

In addition to financial losses and mounting debt, online gambling addiction can cause disruptions in family, romantic, and work relationships, as well as psychological distress and feelings of withdrawal when gambling is stopped. Like other forms of addiction, gambling disorder can lead to poor health habits, such as lack of sleep and unhealthy eating patterns, which in turn can cause deterioration of overall health, resulting in the need for costly medical treatment or even hospitalization. Gambling-related problems are also associated with mental health comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety disorders.