Online Gambling Addictions Growing

Gambling is big business, and in the so-called "lawless land" of the Internet, it's on the rise. Online gambling generated around $12 billion last year, spread out over roughly 2,300 gaming sites. Some studies indicate that the rise in gambling is being accompanied by an increase in gambling addiction. Data from Britain suggests 0.8 percent of their population has some kind of addiction to gambling. "If you are a vulnerable individual, the ease of online gambling-the instant access and convenience of use-is likely to fuel those addictive tendencies you have already," said Mark Griffiths, a professor of gambling. A charity for addicts, known as eCOGRA, an online gaming auditor, operators may then contact the gamblers and suggest a "cooling-off period." The British government has also gotten in on the act, creating an independent Del.icio.us") | Yahoo! My Web Technorati: Doug is a staff writer for Murdok for the latest eBusiness news.