Learn about online gambling

Gambling is everywhere. Gambling is becoming more accessible because of smartphones, tablets, and the increasing number of gambling websites and apps. This makes it very easy for people to gamble anywhere and at any time. The average online gambler has five gambling apps on their phone, which like having gambling venues in their pocket. It’s important to understand the risks of having such easy access to gambling 24/7 without some of the safety measures that are available at traditional gambling outlets.

Online gambling is very convenient and easy to use. Setting up an account for online sports or race betting is quick and simple, which means it takes very little time to get started. Once people have created an account, they can easily deposit funds and start playing. This means there’s not much time for people to think about their decisions, leading them to spend more money and time than they intended.

Gambling online can feel anonymous because it can be done in private or without other people knowing. People can gamble online without their friends or family realising what they are doing.

No cash changes hands during online gambling. Instead, people use credit or debit cards, which can make it feel like they’re not gambling with real money. This can make it easy to lose track of how much they’ve won or lost.

When people gamble online, they often do it by themselves, which can make it easier for them to lose track of the money and time they spend gambling. Since there’s no one else around, it can be challenging to know when to stop, slow down or take a break.

Some online gambling sites offer free games that allow people to “practice” before playing with real money. These free games usually have higher chances of winning than games that use real money. This can make winning seem easy, which encourages people to play the real money games. It’s important to remember that games that use real money don’t have the same odds as the free games.

Gambling websites and apps track everything players do, including how often they gamble, how much they spend, and how their gambling patterns change. They can then use this information to effectively market gambling to them by sending personalised ads, offers, bonuses and promotions. These are deliberately designed to draw players back to the websites or apps to gamble and entice them to keep playing.

Some online gambling services are based in other countries and are not regulated in Australia, which means they may not follow the same rules and safety measures as Australian gambling services. People who have used these offshore services have reported issues with not receiving their winnings, sites being closed without warning, and money being taken out of their accounts without permission. It’s important for players to stick with legal, licenced Australian gambling services to ensure their safety and protection.