Psychiatric Group Finds Unregulated Online Casinos Dangerous
Problem gambling occurring at online casinos demands that regulation be instituted to protect consumers, as can be concluded from figures released by the American Psychiatric Association and the US National Gambling Impact Study Commission. An article by LittleAbout.com reveals that both groups consider the current unregulated state of US online gambling to be dangerous for problem gamblers and teens.
Even though the UIGEA ban is still in place, the gambling commission estimates that more than 1300 casinos take in more than $650 million and perhaps as much as $2 billion annually from the US market. Lack of regulation has left those citizens playing at risk for fraud, dishonest games, and identity theft.
Further, by refusing to regulate the industry and applying safeguards, Congress has left US children vulnerable. The APA said teens are least likely to be able to resist temptation to gamble at Internet casinos.
The study found that as many as fifteen percent of youth surveyed admitted to having had a significant problem related to gambling. Those among this group in danger of suffering from addictive gambling remain untreated, as unregulated play allows the disorder to bloom undisclosed through hours of uninterrupted Internet gambling.
Yet again, it can be seen that whatever good intentions that may have been behind the passing of the UIGEA have led to unforeseen and disastrous consequences. Online casino gambling can only be made safe for US citizens through legalization, licensing, and regulation.
