This research paper gives a brief history of the involvement, and the results thereof, of the government laws and regulations, with the gambling industry's standpoint on the criticisms faced, and positive points of Internet Gambling. Online Gambling Rules and Regulations: The widespread restrictions and regulations passed over the years on the accessibility and ventures of the gambling industry have mainly been because of the belief that the pros and cons of the gaming industry weigh heavily towards the negatives as opposed to the positives (Valley Broad. v. United States, 1998; Keller, 1999) In the United States framework, it is acknowledged that the construct for legalizing internet gambling can be intricate and tricky, which is why both the federal as well as state government bodies are sharing responsibilities for its control
For example, search engines like Google have become increasingly fine-tuned in order to weed out unrelated results and eliminate link spamming, which reduces the ability of the site to bring itself to the attention of those that were not looking for it (Miller, 2011). However, other technologies have become increasingly common, such as the use of third party tracking cookies to track visitors across multiple sites (Avcock, 2010)
Gambling sites are a means of entertainment that can alleviate boredom (Derevensky & Gupta, 2007). Such sites offer various benefits including twenty-four hour access seven days a week, access to credit, and anonymity (Brown, 2006) Furthermore, many authors have argued that younger populations are drawn to Internet gambling because of their comfort level with technology (i
Other questions to be addressed include how individuals gamble online and what affects this has on the individual in terms of psychological well-being. Gambling sites are a means of entertainment that can alleviate boredom (Derevensky & Gupta, 2007)
Only one American casino, the MGM Mirage, made significant attempts to enter the online gambling business (McGowan, 2008). However, this competition must also be viewed in light of the American history of gaming, which has routinely positioned land-based casinos as negative social factors and imposed a moralistic determination of lack of value on gambling activities (Eadington, 1999)
Only one American casino, the MGM Mirage, made significant attempts to enter the online gambling business (McGowan, 2008). However, this competition must also be viewed in light of the American history of gaming, which has routinely positioned land-based casinos as negative social factors and imposed a moralistic determination of lack of value on gambling activities (Eadington, 1999)
Regardless of the inherently problematic and possibly useless nature of marketing, online gambling sites, particularly those run by operators that may not have the best interests of their customers in mind, pay significant attention to retaining the customer's attention. Some of the techniques that have been used by operators include: embedding of innocuous keywords in order to draw attention to the site from unrelated searches; telescoping windows that continue to draw the attention of the customer who is trying to leave the site; and tracking customers' online (Griffiths, 2003)
Regardless of the inherently problematic and possibly useless nature of marketing, online gambling sites, particularly those run by operators that may not have the best interests of their customers in mind, pay significant attention to retaining the customer's attention. Some of the techniques that have been used by operators include: embedding of innocuous keywords in order to draw attention to the site from unrelated searches; telescoping windows that continue to draw the attention of the customer who is trying to leave the site; and tracking customers' online (Griffiths, 2003)
Regardless of the inherently problematic and possibly useless nature of marketing, online gambling sites, particularly those run by operators that may not have the best interests of their customers in mind, pay significant attention to retaining the customer's attention. Some of the techniques that have been used by operators include: embedding of innocuous keywords in order to draw attention to the site from unrelated searches; telescoping windows that continue to draw the attention of the customer who is trying to leave the site; and tracking customers' online (Griffiths, 2003)
Thus, there is a conflict in achieving effective marketing for online gambling practices, which has impeded its general development. There are further problems in online marketing of gambling, particularly the issue of cross-border laws regarding gambling marketing and the technological challenges of restricting marketing activities from specific jurisdictions based on those laws (Hornle & Zammit, 2010)
" However, these limits are not always prominently displayed on sites. One study has found that popular sites in the UK do frequently display information regarding GamCare or Gamblers Anonymous to visitors that are perceived to be potentially problem gamblers (Jawad & Griffiths, 2008)
The majority of online gambling sites do not rely on the use of existing land-based casino brands in order to draw in customers. The use of marketing in the online gaming industry is not necessarily the same as other industries, because of the differing relationship between continued use of online gambling services and satisfaction (Jolley, Mizerski, & Olaru, 2006)
As will be discussed, the online gambling industry does not tend to innovate on products it offers consumers, instead sticking to known games and betting opportunities (The Economist, 2010). Furthermore, there is little evidence that the industry goes out of its way to seek out new markets, instead relying on existing gamblers for new customers (LaBrie, Kaplan, LaPlante, Nelson, & Shaffer, 2008)
As will be discussed, the online gambling industry does not tend to innovate on products it offers consumers, instead sticking to known games and betting opportunities (The Economist, 2010). Furthermore, there is little evidence that the industry goes out of its way to seek out new markets, instead relying on existing gamblers for new customers (LaBrie, Kaplan, LaPlante, Nelson, & Shaffer, 2008)
As will be discussed, the online gambling industry does not tend to innovate on products it offers consumers, instead sticking to known games and betting opportunities (The Economist, 2010). Furthermore, there is little evidence that the industry goes out of its way to seek out new markets, instead relying on existing gamblers for new customers (LaBrie, Kaplan, LaPlante, Nelson, & Shaffer, 2008)
Men have been found to be more commonly involved in online gambling than women, and a higher proportion of men than women involved in online gambling fall into the category of problem gamblers (Griffiths & Barnes, 2008). However, although research shows that women participate in online gambling less (as well as in land-based gambling), actual patterns of behaviour between men and women were similar (LaPlante, Kleschinsky, LaBrie, Nelson, & Schaffer, 2009)
There have been numerous attempts in American law to outlaw online gambling, although given that approximately 20% of worldwide online gambling revenues stem from the United States this cannot be considered to be a particularly successful regulatory move (American Gaming Association, 2010). However, in many other regions the practice remains entirely legal and does not face any significant barriers (McGowan, 2008)
McMullan and Rege (2010) have found evidence of different levels of organized crime syndicates at work in the online gambling arena. Some of the criminal activities found in the gambling industry included hackers and malware that steals players' financial information, inside theft of data by the companies and their employees, phishing and identity fraud, and money laundering (McMillen, 2000; McMullan & Rege, 2010; McMullan & Rege, 2007; Schopper, 2002)
GIF] In addition to general competition, there are a number of potential dangers within the online gambling industry that can affect how well individual firms operate, as well as the industry as a whole. Many of these challenges, as with the land-based gambling industry, are related to organized crime (McMullan & Rege, 2010)
GIF] In addition to general competition, there are a number of potential dangers within the online gambling industry that can affect how well individual firms operate, as well as the industry as a whole. Many of these challenges, as with the land-based gambling industry, are related to organized crime (McMullan & Rege, 2010)