The Gigantic Problem With Online Gambling Apps
Gambling apps are perpetuating an uptick in the number of people with gambling addictions.
This article is more than 2 years old
In 2022, everything has become digital. From banking to paying for parking, most services have easily transitioned to virtual versions. Gambling is another in-person event that has slowly transformed to having online accommodations during the pandemic. Similar to regular gambling, online gambling apps are troublesome and could cause severe monetary complications for someone that’s in too deep.
Many already know the dangers of gambling. The dopamine rush, the spectacle, the endless slot machines, and the potential of winning millions are all factors that keep people entrenched in the jackpot fantasy. One of the obvious determents for gambling compulsion is its distance and availability; in years prior, those wanting to gamble would have to find a casino to play poker or use the slot machines. Sometimes, the physical distance between a person and a casino could keep them from returning incessantly. But online gambling apps allow people to lose or win money in seconds without leaving the house.
Virtual gambling now provides unlimited availability for someone to bet or place wagers without any time limits. Though online gambling apps were illegal in the United States for most of the 21st century, six states have recently realized gambling online. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Even outside these states, people have found easy ways to download online betting software or applications. In general, other states legalizing gambling and casinos have also propelled the prevalence and normalization of online betting, forcing people into unfortunate cycles.
Before 2001, only nine states allowed casinos to be operated within their borders. In 2022, 11 more states have passed legislation to build casinos and other gambling establishments, with even more states legally allowing sports betting. As more state governments push for legal casino construction, many have also expressed interest in virtual gambling as well. More regions in the US are looking to legalize gambling since the revenue produced by tangible and virtual casinos funnel back into the state. As casinos have become more prevalent, so have online gaming apps, and there’s little government oversight to restrict their predatory outcomes.
Though users of online gambling apps acknowledge feelings of shame when discussing their compulsions, gambling is a phenomenon highly normalized in society. Experts have found that sports betting, day trading, and cryptocurrency trading all revolve around gambling and the similar mental and emotional stimuli one gets from these actions. Stock trading is undeniably normalized in society, yet the fallout can be identical to a betting loss. Studies have found correlations between individuals who trade stock every week and those who gamble.
Since online gambling apps became legal three years ago in Illinois, many have seen an increase in betting addiction. Members of Gamblers Anonymous, an organization that hosts meetings for those with gambling compulsions, have noticed a stark increase in attendees since Illinois’s new betting laws. This acknowledgment is more than just subjective; the National Council on Problem Gambling recently found that 40% of people ages 18-44 said they had gambled at least once last year. A quarter of those surveyed said that their online betting and gambling increased during the pandemic.
