Online Gambling is any kind of gambling conducted on the Internet, such as virtual poker, casinos and sports betting. It was first introduced in the late 1990s. Online gambling sites allow players to wager real money using their computer or mobile device. There were only 15 Internet gambling websites in 1996 but by 1998 that number had increased to 200 and online gambling revenues exceeded $830 million. Multiplayer online gambling was also introduced in 1999 and allowed people to chat and interact with one another while playing a game.

Online gambling is legal in many countries including some states in the United States, several provinces in Canada and most European Union nations. However, some of these jurisdictions have restrictions on advertising or offer different forms of gambling to their citizens. For example, a player in New Jersey can only play at licensed online casinos.

While many people enjoy online casino games, it is important to recognise the symptoms of problem gambling which include monetary issues and a disregard for personal obligations. If you or someone you know has a problem with online gambling, seek professional help as soon as possible. There are organisations that specialise in gambling support, such as GamCare.

Psychotherapy can help a person with a gambling addiction to identify and cope with the emotional problems that cause them to gamble. It is usually combined with other treatments and often involves group or individual therapy sessions. The most common psychotherapy approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of treatment can be effective in treating online gambling addiction.