Types of online gambling
Gambling has been part of the different cultures around the world and there are many different types available online. Sports betting, for example, is a popular form of online gambling.
For so many years gambling has evolved and innovations have occurred, which initially spawned online gambling, and eventually more varieties of it.
While, in the past, gambling was restricted to casinos and illegal gambling dens, these days online gambling has taken it to the next level.
Gambling expansion and global availability
Online gambling has become a global phenomenon, expanding rapidly due to increased internet access, mobile device usage, and relaxed regulations in various regions. The industry includes sports betting, online casinos, poker, bingo, and lotteries, with billions wagered annually across licensed platforms. Europe leads the way, with countries like the UK and Malta offering robust regulatory frameworks, ensuring player protection and industry transparency.
In North America, the United States has taken a state-by-state approach to legalization, with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan among the most active markets. Canada recently opened the door to single-event sports betting, allowing provinces to regulate online gambling directly. In Asia, growth is mixed — countries like Thailand are debating embracing regulated gambling operators, while others, including China, impose strict bans.
Australia is home to a well-regulated gambling market, though advertising and harm minimization remain hot topics. Australia is an example of a country that has not regulated all forms of online gambling, with online casinos and poker outlawed in this part of the world. The Australian sports betting industry is massive though, with horse racing, AFL and NRL exceptionally popular.
Africa, particularly South Africa and Nigeria, is emerging as a significant market, driven by mobile-first users and demand for sports betting. South Africa has legal online casinos and sports betting, while lotto betting, lotteries, and many other forms of gambling are available,
Below we will break down the different types of online gambling available:
Online sports betting sites
Online sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling. Sports betting sites offer wagering on almost all professional sports, horse racing, Entertainment and event politics. Both fixed odds betting and pool betting are popular globally. Some of the sport with the biggest wagering on them include the NFL, NBA, EPL and La Liga. Esports betting has also grown increasingly popular, as the younger generation, who grew up with video games, graduate to a legal betting age.
Online casino sites
Online casinos are very popular in modern times, with this popularity growing rapidly from the 1990s to now. There are casino sites where you can play your favourite gambling games such as blackjack, pachinko, baccarat, roulette, and many more. Online gambling sites also offer thousands of online slots, some great bonus bet offers, daily promotions and much more.
Online Lottery Sites
Lottery can now be played online. And most of these real money lottery sites are run by the different government agencies. Competition in these government run lottery sites is not promoted due to the large amount of taxes being implemented. Many government-sanctioned lotteries around the world will allow you to buy tickets online, however “lotto betting” in many cases, has overtaken these types of lotto games. Lotto betting, is essentially an insured bet on the results of a lotto game, with the payouts mirroring that of the draw. For instance, people in the UK, via operators like Lottoland, can buy tickets into the US Powerball if they wish. Lotto betting has proven contentious, largely because it eats into the tax revenue generated by state sanctioned draws.
Online poker
Like other form of gambling, poker can now be played online. There are actually a number of online poker sites to choose from. Many of these real money poker sites offer you games such as Omaha, Seven-card stud, HORSE, Texas hold ’em, and many others. Usually, these poker games can be seen in tournament and ring structures.
How to take part in online gambling
These are just some the online gambling types available. You can follow the links on this page to find out more information about each type of online gambling, while the brands advertised on this page are all reviewed by our critics.
If you are looking to start gambling online, it’s important to do your research: understand the laws you are living under and what gambling sites you can sign up at. For instance, people in countries like China, will find they have to bet with offshore operators, because wagering is banned in this part of the world.
Many offshore online gambling sites will accept your custom, even if casino gambling is banned where you are located.
