Online gambling is a popular form of gambling that has seen strong growth and spread in recent decades. Its intrinsic characteristics, such as accessibility and anonymity, make it attractive to many players. The aim of this study is to present the current state of knowledge about risk and protective factors in online gambling. To this end, a literature search was conducted in the PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus databases. The syntax was: “gambling” + “online, internet, interactive” + (risk factor* or protect factor* or predictor* or correlate*). A total of 42 articles were selected for inclusion in the review.

The results of the literature review indicate that individual and relational factors play an important role in influencing gambling behaviour. Personality traits, such as high impulsivity and dysfunctional personality, are associated with a higher risk of gambling problems in online gamblers. Contextual factors have also been identified as important. One example is the university context, where academic issues increase the likelihood of engaging in gambling activities.

A number of tools are available to support responsible gambling, such as universal pre-commitment, which requires people to set binding limits on time and money spent on gambling and self-exclusion from gambling providers. The latter is an effective tool for limiting access to gambling sites. In addition, avoiding gambling during periods of emotional turmoil is a good way to prevent compulsive gambling. Moreover, those who are struggling with gambling should seek professional help. This will improve their chances of recovering from their compulsive gambling and reducing the harm it can cause their lives.