Online Gambling Safety Tips For Teens and College Students

Teenagers and college students often have easy access to real-world casinos and online gambling sites. It is important to discuss the risks of these activities with them and to provide them with a safe, responsible gaming environment. Listed below are some basic tips for online gambling safety. If you suspect that you or your child may be having a problem with internet gambling, consult a primary care physician. You may also want to read additional materials available online.

Be sure to only gamble with licensed sites. Legitimate online casinos are regulated by governments and have licensing. You should be able to see what licensing and monitoring organizations are monitoring their activities to avoid frauds. Remember that gambling is illegal in some countries and accessing these sites is a felony. Check your jurisdiction’s gambling laws to see if it has age requirements. While these laws are changing frequently, it is important to know that there are some general guidelines for safe and responsible gambling online.

The most recent DSM-5 guidelines for online gambling have introduced a new category, Internet Gaming Disorder, in which highly involved gamblers are at a higher risk of gambling addiction than those with less involvement. It is important to note that not all highly involved gamblers are at risk of developing gambling addiction, and those with low involvement are not screened negatively. Therefore, a single online gambling index is not enough to predict the development of gambling-related problems.