Internet Gambling and Its Effects

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In today’s society it is very rare to meet someone who does not own a computer and a smart phone. Most businesses, companies, stores, and organizations can be found on the Internet. Along with shopping, banking and research, entertainment is one of the major reasons for use of the Internet. Adding to the Internet’s growing popularity for entertainment purposes is online gambling.

Around the world, the gambling industry is growing rapidly by way of casinos, and most recently, on the Internet. "Four years ago, there was one online gambling site; today it’s estimated there are between 300 and 400." To some, gambling on the net may just be an entertaining past time, but for many others it soon becomes a serious addiction. Approximately 80% of the United States population gambles in some manner. That is a 20% rise since the 1960’s. "Unfortunately no systematic process of educating, screening, and treating pathologic gamblers is currently in place." Some sites do offer links to gambling support group’s websites such as gambler’s anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org). But, do people really go to these sites? Do they realize they have a problem? Most probably don’t. I work in a casino, and from that experience I have come to realize that the true gambleaholics are the last to recognize their problem. They always say "Just one more hand," or they continue to play assuming they will eventually get their money back. That is where it all begins. Before they know it, they are so far in debt they may never get out. Many lose jobs, families, and possessions due to time spent gambling and the money they lose.

Of course, online gambling does not use real cash; instead users must give their credit card numbers. In some ways this may be g...

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...wsuits that come of it, but people can become addicted to many other things out there, not just gambling on the net. We, as a society, just need to know our limits and stick to them.

Bibliography

Caulfield, Brian. "Online Gambling Still Province of Startups." Internet World Sept. 1998. .

Krebs, Brian. "House Passes Internet Gambling Bill." Newsbytes PM 6 April 2000.

McDonald, Marci. "Betting the House." U.S. News & World Report 16 Oct. 2000: 44-46.

Murphy, Kathleen. "Can’t Run Those Ads." Internet World 15 Oct. 1999.

Unwin, Brian K. "Pathologic Gambling." American Family Physician 1 Feb. 2000.

Wilcox, Melynda Dovel. "Coming: A 12-step plan for computer addicts?" Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine Sept. 1999.

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