"Online" Increasingly Seen as More Dangerous Than "Casino"

Online casinos are increasingly seen as less dangerous for any gambling conducted and more so just for contributing to Internet compulsions, a growing concern.

With studies consistently showing that gambling at online casinos carries a relatively mild risk of exacerbating problem gambling, the worry by many mental health professionals has shifted to the Internet aspect of the equation. As growing concerns are voiced over compulsive Internet use, the first detoxification and rehabilitation program for online addicts in the US has opened.

Repeated studies done by substance abuse specialists and successfully reviewed by peers show that, despite myths to the contrary, playing at online casinos is considerably less likely to lead to compulsive gambling than gambling at land-based casinos. But evidence of an increasing number of dysfunctional incidents of Internet usage have led to the establishment of ReStart, a 45-day retreat outside Seattle.

ReStart staff employ a questionnaire similar to the ones used by experts in problem gambling, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse to determine whether a problem exists. Most of the questions revolve around whether online time interferes with regular life duties, responsibilities, and enjoyments.

Gaming fans seem to often be in danger of falling into the problem categories for Internet compulsion. The first patient treated by the program says he would play World of Warfare "until I fell asleep at my keyboard."

"I'd have all these rationalizations of, well, it's not a big deal to just miss this one class," said another teenager enrolled for the $14,500 program.

The program doesn't demand that attendees expel the Internet from their lives; rather, it just helps them to rediscover life offline, and hopefully bring an Aristolean moderation to future Internet usage.