Online Gambling is a type of gambling that is performed via computer or mobile devices. Various software programs are used to facilitate online gambling, and some websites may offer a variety of gambling activities while others specialize in one form of gambling. In the United States, the majority of online gambling sites are operated by licensed casinos or by third parties such as daily fantasy sports websites. Gambling online requires a desktop computer, laptop or mobile device with internet access and a working credit or debit card.

The online gambling phenomenon has gained momentum in recent years, and its potential for addiction and other harms is of concern. While federal regulations impact financial transactions and the types of gambling offered, state laws vary widely with respect to licensing and operational compliance and permissible types of online gambling.

In this article, we investigate the current state of knowledge about risk and protective factors in the context of online gambling in adults. A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, PsychInfo and Scopus databases. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2020. The search was based on the PICO (population, intervention, comparison and outcome) criteria and focused on psychological factors at different levels of analysis, including risk, protective and promotive elements.

Several studies show that people who gamble online experience greater negative psychological outcomes than non-gamblers. In addition, gambling has been linked to the development of gambling disorders. Prevention strategies such as universal pre-commitment (requiring people to set binding limits on time and money spent gambling) and self-exclusion have been shown to be effective in reducing gambling-related harm.