The U.S. and Canada should legalize and control online gambling to reduce negative effects, because gamblers play more aggressively online than they do in casinos, according to a joint study by the University of Western Ontario in Canada and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.
The study found that even though online gambling is illegal in the U.S. and Canada it is still easy for gamblers to gain access to sites that are located in other countries. More than $10 billion is spent annually worldwide by people gambling online.
"Just as legalized commercial gambling in casinos allows governments to regulate it, so, too, could the legalization of online gambling allow for better regulation and attempts to reduce the growth of problem gamblers," said June Cotte, Associate Professor of Marketing at the
"The unregulated online environment results in a more chaotic environment with no clear social norms and rules. The meaning of gambling changes, moving from a shared conviviality available in the casino to a no-holds-barred battle online. It brings out the gamblers' more competitive side," said Cotte.
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