30 Mar 2006
Even though sports gambling is currently in the headlines because of March Madness, a study shows that sports gambling is not the problem, but rather social gambling. America is experiencing a gambling boom. The NCAA's March Madness season and the current legislative attempts by a few senators to push forward a totally online gambling ban, have highlighted the issue now more than ever before. Online gambling is becoming one of the most popular pastimes, with a high proportion of college students partaking in this 'hobby'. The problem, however, does not lie in organized sports gambling, a study has shown, but rather in social gambling that could develop into something more sinister.
Online gambling revenues have quadrupled over the past five years into a $12 billion-a-year business. Studies have shown that students spend much of their leisure time gambling and not specifically at online casinos. A poker match between friends can be as addictive, and even more so, than online gambling. The social gambler is one who has more potential of becoming and addicted gambler, the study continues. While online casino gambling is illegal, only ONE person in the entire United States has ever been convicted of gambling online!
The study shows that there are many youngsters who start out as social gamblers and then move onto the more serious internet gambling. Intrinsically, there is no problem with online gambling if it is done in a controlled and non-obsessive manner; the problem arises when a person with a potentially addictive personality enters the realm of online casinos. If parents are made aware of the potential risks and look out for the warning signs of addictive gamblers, then the damage could be controlled in college-kids.
