Mobile gambling is a growing industry, with a great range of game types available to play via your mobile device. Some online casinos have applications that you can download, while others offer a browser-based experience.

The popularity of mobile gambling has also led to a growing problem among young people. The social nature of mobile casino games has created a new type of addictive behaviour called “freemium” gaming. These titles use virtual money to lure users into a game, then entice them to pay real cash for additional game features.

Legality

There are a number of states that allow residents to place wagers on sports events through their mobile devices. These laws have been put in place to ensure that players are playing responsibly and at a safe distance from their homes.

Law is primarily concerned with practical application, and so it distinguishes between legal rights that are enforceable and those that are not. The former are referred to as “perfect” rights, and the latter as “imperfect” (Fitzgerald [Salmond] 1966: 233; Raz 1994: 256).

Although federal laws have been relaxed, it is still illegal to gamble online in any state that doesn’t explicitly legalize gambling. That includes New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and soon West Virginia.

Availability

Smartphones are increasingly used for gambling, providing access to a number of different games that are tailored specifically for mobile use. These include bespoke apps, adapted websites and text messaging.

Gambling on mobile devices has the potential to be a highly engaging form of play. However, a growing body of research suggests that this form of play has distinctive features that may be particularly harmful to gamblers.

This paper reviews the existing evidence on the psychology of gambling and considers whether mobile gambling has distinguishing psychological processes that may be particularly risky to problem gamblers. It also examines the implications of these processes for gambling harms and health care priorities.

Accessibility

With more and more people playing mobile games, the accessibility of these apps is a vital concern. Accessibility can make an app more enjoyable for players with visual, auditory, or motor disabilities.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the most widely used accessibility standards for web and information technology applications. These guidelines can be utilized to help create accessible gaming software.

The study conducted in this paper aimed to understand how well the current W3C accessibility guidelines support recreational activities, such as mobile gaming. It also sought to find out what developers felt could be improved.

Privacy

Mobile gambling is an emerging activity that has the potential to affect consumer behaviour that few other forms of entertainment can. It also introduces new technologies that could exacerbate existing societal problems, such as addiction.

In this context, the privacy of mobile gambling is of particular importance. It is essential for consumers to know how their personal data is used.

This is especially important for young players who are often unable to consent to broad uses of their data. Game developers need to provide age-appropriate and timely information about data collection.

Addiction

Gambling addiction can be a serious disorder that requires help from trained professionals. Treatment involves evaluating the extent of the problem and identifying other factors that may be contributing to it.

The first step is to understand that you have an issue and seek help. This can include talking to a health provider, completing an assessment and getting a referral to a professional.

Those with gambling addiction may develop distorted thinking, including denial of the severity of their gambling habits and sensation-seeking. They may also be more prone to impulse-control problems and have trouble making rational decisions.

Research has shown that mobile gambling can contribute to problem gambling and other harms. However, studies have been limited in terms of their design and the population.