An Examination of Interactions of U.S. Players with Offshore Gambling Sites and Online Casino Reviews: Are They Offenders of Victims?

• In Event: The Digital Underground Business and Online Safety (Organized by Korean Society of Criminology in America (KoSCA) & Sponsored by the Division of Cybercrime (DC))

Abstract

Illegal online gambling poses concerns for the legal market and risks for gambling addiction and consumer protection in the U.S. Numerous law violations occur in this domain, which is produced by the interactions between players, gambling sites, and online casino reviews. Exploring the interactions of players with online gambling sites and online casino reviews is vital in developing preventive measures that can reduce the illegal market; however, a limited number of criminological studies have empirically investigated this subject. This study examined how structural and operational factors of offshore gambling sites affect players’ decisions to use such sites, drawing on routine activities theory as the primary theoretical framework. In addition, this study employed framing theory coupled with neutralization techniques to examine how online casino reviews interpret the use of offshore gambling sites in the U.S. Policy implications were suggested based on the findings and would provide insights toward effective online gambling regulatory efforts.

Author

• Sinyong Choi, Kennesaw State University