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While all the talk rages about how socially irresponsible it is to regulate online casinos and how Internet gambling will supposedly create a army of problem gamblers, all the statistics seem to indicate otherwise.

Dr. Howard Shaffer, the director of Harvard Medical School’s Division of Addictions says that studies reveal that players at online casinos are displaying more self restraint and personal responsibility that players at brick and mortar casinos.  Gambling has certainly increased in the United States and Dr. Shaffer does not deny that online casinos have had a hand in that, but in the mean time the rate of problem gambling has remained the same.

“The very first thing we learned (studying gambling patters at online casinos), which we didn't expect, was that the vast majority, the overwhelming majority of gamblers online gamble in a very moderate and mild way,” explained Dr. Shaffer.

It is logical and even understandable to assume that the increased access to gambling activity ushered in by the success of online casinos would lead to an increase in problem gambling rates.  According to Dr. Shaffer, not only is that untrue but it appears that incidences of problem gambling are in a slight decline since the 1970’s.  Problem gambling cases may have decrease by has much as 0.6 to 0.7 percent.

Dr. Shaffer is of the mind that the best way to prevent problem gambling is to continue to educate the public about such behavior.  He believes it be much more useful than the prohibition of online casinos, legislation the doctor considers unenforceable.

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