Getting a thrill out of gambling is one thing, but losing money can also be a psychologically damaging experience. Losses can trigger depression and a loss of self-esteem. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the worst effects of gambling.
Online gambling has become a popular pastime. In fact, in the last decade, online gaming sites have grown dramatically. A recent study by comScore found that in October 2011, online gambling was the fastest growing online category. The survey also found that 20 percent of college students play online poker at least once a month.
The most common types of gambling are casinos, poker, sports betting, and bingo. Other forms of gambling include pool-selling, pool-playing, and other forms of lotteries. Some states allow some forms of gambling, while others don’t.
The first casino to offer an online gambling experience to the public was the Liechtenstein International Lottery, which operated from 1999 to 2006. In December 2002, the General Accounting Office released Internet Gambling: An Overview of Issues. This study found that over 1.7 million youth gambled for money at least once a month on the Internet.
Gambling is a largely state-based activity, and federal law only reinforces state law in some cases. There have also been several constitutional challenges to the enforcement of gambling laws. In particular, the First Amendment has been thrown around.
The First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech has been a thorn in the side of some, particularly when financial transactions are involved.