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Essay / The Dangers of the Internet: The Growth of Online Gambling and Its Implications
Table of ContentsIntroductionGrowth of Internet GamblingThe Risk Associated with Internet GamblingImplications for Regulation and Harm MinimizationConclusionReferencesIntroductionThe Dangers of Internet Gambling Have Increased Significantly over the past ten years and currently represent around 8% of the global gambling market (GBGC, 2011). It has been growing since the 1990s and is one of the biggest changes in the gaming environment in recent years through the use of smartphones, computers or wireless devices that connect to the Internet. Internet gambling is the fastest growing mode of gambling and it is changing the way players engage in this movement. The number of people assessed to be interested in online gambling has further risen to millions despite complaints, lawsuits and other challenges. The industry's revenues currently amount to several billion US dollars per year (Gainsbury, 2012).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Nowadays, various support sites are developing, which incorporate data pages containing odds and payout figures, gaming site portals as well as pages for sports handicappers. . The number of people involved in Internet gaming remains moderately low, but is gradually increasing as countries legalize and regulate Internet gaming. When this happens, Internet gambling has become an acceptable norm in society. Governments have passed laws to regulate the activities of gambling sites by introducing gambling laws. Countries that have legalized and regulated online gambling include Australia, France and Germany. These countries allow online gambling while monitoring it. Licenses are required for gambling operators to ensure they meet standards for promoting responsible online gambling. Growth of Internet Gaming Over the past decade, the world of Internet gaming has grown significantly. “The industry was worth $41.78 billion at the end of 2016 and is expected to reach the $80 billion mark by the end of 2020.” (Jones, 2018). 11% of total Internet traffic now comes from Internet gambling players. The growing social recognition of Internet gaming continues to drive the development of Internet gaming. Nowadays, technology provides individuals with many choices and gaming options for internet gamers. “Technology has been the main driver of online gaming. As companies acquire advanced gaming software, online gaming has become simple and transactions secure. (Craft Central, 2019).An Isle of Man based company called “Microgaming” has developed the first fully functional gaming software. The security of transactions during games of chance led to the creation of the first casinos in 1994 (Schwartz, 2006). As development continued at several casinos and clubs, gaming licenses were introduced to ensure operations were clear and honest. As popularity increased during the 1990s, the number of websites offering Internet gambling platforms increased by approximately 200 in one year, from 1996 to 1997. Types of online gambling are poker , bingo, lotteries, sports betting. , online casinos and horse racing betting. According to Nower and Blaszczynski (2010), the wide range of online gaming options has promptedmore people to participate in at least one of the existing forms of Internet gaming. The risk associated with Internet gaming Problem gambling and addiction. A national study on the impact of gambling conducted in the United States in 1999 found that problem or pathological gambling may be increased by the instant and quick rewards of Internet gaming as well as the absolute level of user privacy. Related research conducted in the United Kingdom has confirmed the clear links between problem gambling and safety components. The report claims that three-quarters of people engaged in Internet gambling were pathological gamblers, compared to only a fifth of problem gamblers among participants in land-based casinos (McQuade and Gill, 2016). There are accusations that offenders are likely to abuse Internet games. money laundering due to the unsupervised nature of electronic financial exchanges between gambling operators and their customers. This has singled out Internet gaming as a key avenue for money laundering, much favored by the rise of virtual economies in Internet gaming sites. Multiplayer games that use in-game forms of currency – such as World of Warcraft gold – that can be exchanged for real money. In addition to the theft of players, a second hypothesis also arises regarding the use of Internet gaming scenes by a cybercriminal: Many are avid gamers themselves and law enforcement authorities are currently proposing that these associated games are a stone adventure in the dark world of cybercrime. Recently, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) was criticized on social media for suggesting that teenagers expressing an interest in computing, as well as gaming, could become cybercriminals, supporting the previous comments from the National Cyber Crime Agency (NCA). Director of Unit (NCCU), Dr Jamie Saunders.Implications for regulation and harm minimizationHarm minimization strategies for problem gambling are largely similar to those used to address alcohol dependence. The strategies work on the principle of changing consumer behavior through reduction or prevention of gambling habits. There are strengths on Internet gambling sites that promote awareness in order to maintain effective gambling and minimize injuries . Such powerful gaming features have been found to boost customer confidence and minimize their anxiety of winning. However, some exploratory surveys have revealed that a small number of online gamers have used these features. By minimizing the amount of money, the player can bet over a certain period of time which is usually required by law. This could come with warning signs of high spending. For example, in Spain and Germany, online gaming operators are required to set standard deposit limits (Chóliz, 2015). In Australia, setting the limit on the amount of money a player can store is entirely a deliberate obligation of the operator. Amidst the permissions, gambling administrators can be trained to broadcast warnings about untrustworthy gambling threats on their websites. They can pay attention to promotions that increase the likelihood that players will participate, but as a game. The chances of the player getting money and extra money in case of a loss should be minimized. Knowledgeable and sophisticated staff make the difference when it comes to distinguishing customers who may be experiencinggambling problems. Operating guidelines and authorizations ensure that gambling problems are detected as early as possible and dealt with appropriately. A confirmation strategy is used to find out the age and true characters of online players. It is essential to ensure that minors are not involved in betting administrations. Customers can deliberately set limits on how much money they can lose or spend before they start gambling on the Internet. Additionally, an Internet player who frequently reaches the limit may decide to self-exclude quickly and smoothly. A study reported by Parke et al. (2012) indicated that most Internet gamblers have different accounts on different gaming sites and are therefore likely to switch to each other when one account reaches the limit. Operators can set up programs that alert players when they are about to reach their betting limit. However, Nower and Blasczynski (2010) argue that: "Prior commitment would have little effect on reducing gambling spending among those who intended to continue gambling, those who most need to set limits , problem gamblers, are the least likely to adopt the use. smartcards and other re-engagement technologies and most likely to find ways around limitations. (p. 370) “The dangers of Internet gambling compared to casinos are that a player who chooses to spend part of his time in a casino gambling is likely to be noticed by his companions, family or several employees of the casino. Meanwhile, online gamers play for their comfort at work or at home without anyone noticing what they are doing. Traditionally, gambling addiction was cured by avoiding casinos, bars, or other places where gambling took place. Regardless, online gaming has made it difficult for obsessive gamers to dodge the lures. They only need a computer or smartphone with an Internet connection to access a virtual casino. Internet gaming addiction is mainly similar to alcohol addiction. Although internet gambling does not affect the person's internal bodily health, many people continue to participate and act exactly like an addict. Home gambling also provides much consolation to the gambler who finds himself in a compromised ability to resist encouragement to bet online. The ease of subsidizing their online gambling accounts via online installment frameworks indeed makes it less demanding for individuals to lose more money. As a result, various reports of suicide, separation, and family problems continue to increase due to gaming addiction. A person may be so addicted to online gaming that they tend to take care of their family's needs. . Regardless of how online gaming is perceived, it causes family breakdowns and crime (Banks, 2014). It becomes almost obvious that the arguments against online gambling raise several questions. The gaming industry has a positive impact on the country's economy, even though global financial instability exists. This has shown too many negative results than some uglier indecencies within society. From the perspective of advanced consumerism, it makes sense to allow consenting adults to risk their money in the context of excitement. This raises the question of whether it is even conceivable for online gaming operators to continue to reap profits while protecting players. Additionally, due to online gambling, live casinos are gradually being decommissioned, and.