Online Gambling is an activity where real money is bet on games of chance through the internet. It can be done from a computer, laptop or mobile phone. It can be a great source of entertainment and a good way to win some money, but it is also important to be aware that gambling can become addictive.

Online gambling has grown rapidly since the late 1990s when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, sparking a poker boom. The industry has expanded to include a wide variety of casino and sports betting websites. In the early 2000s, Bob Goodlatte and Jon Kyl introduced bills to prohibit Internet gambling, but they were unsuccessful.

The risks of gambling include financial stress, relationship breakdown, mental illness and suicide. It can also affect children and young people. To help them understand what gambling is and how to stay safe, the BBC has created this short film, presented by broadcaster Myleene Klass.

Despite being illegal in most countries, online gambling is growing in popularity, and is becoming more widespread. This is mainly due to the fact that it is much easier to access than offline gambling. This increased availability increases the risk of harm, especially in communities where disadvantage is high. There are a number of ways to reduce the harm caused by gambling, including restricting access, centralized account registration to require gamblers to set binding loss limits, advertising restrictions and counter-messaging that conveys warnings about the risks of gambling.