ABSTRACT
The introduction describes the main conceptual basis of this book to help understand what makes online gambling special. Online gambling differs from traditional land-based gambling because it is always networked and connected. Online gambling environments are constantly available, designed in ways that make the gambling experience immersive and continuous, and produce endless amounts of user data on every bet and interaction. The introduction also looks at the exceptional size of the online gambling industry today, and the kinds of negative impacts that online gambling can have on individuals, their families and societies. Finally, the introduction gives an outline of how the book is structured and the kinds of topics that are discussed in the following chapters. The aim of this book is to describe what online gambling is about, how it is organised and structured, and how online commercial practices can influence individuals.
