Online gambling is any form of gambling done through the internet, including online poker, casinos and sports betting. This industry is heavily regulated, and there are several ways for players to protect themselves. Legitimate sites will use encryption software, secure banking options and reputable regulatory bodies to safeguard player funds. In addition, a legitimate online casino, poker or betting site will always display its license number prominently on its website.

The first thing to consider when gambling online is whether or not the game you’re playing is legal in your state or country. In the US, for example, most states allow some form of gambling, but there are two that completely ban it: Utah and Hawaii. These states’ residents are deeply religious, so the state laws reflect this, and they have little interest in allowing gambling in any form to take place.

Another important factor to consider when gambling online is how addictive it can be. Just like with alcohol or drugs, you can develop a gambling addiction and can end up losing more money than you’re winning. Additionally, the nature of online gambling makes it easier to hide your addiction from others, and many gamblers don’t realize they have a problem until it’s too late.

Because of its high risk, the online gambling industry attracts a lot of fraudsters. These scammers attempt to exploit online gaming platforms through affiliate fraud, bonus abuse and more. SEON offers robust and sophisticated software and dedicated fraud analysts to help stop these attacks at every level of the online casino and sportsbook industry.