One thing there is absolutely no shortage of on the net is opportunities to gamble. We are spoilt for choice, whether your fancy is for betting on sports, playing virtual card games or bingo. Among the things that makes internet gambling so potentially dangerous is that it’s easily available for 24 hours a day.

The real danger comes when you combine this factor with the truth that it is very easy to feel detached from the reality of money spent online. Gradually racking up a debt online does not feel the same as handing over hard earned cash from our wallet, so it’s that much easier to lose track of how your online spending is mounting up.

Therefore, debt problems from internet gambling are on the increase. In this post I hope to clarify some of the legal issues around online gambling, as well as providing some advice on coping with the underlying problem and the debts that derive from it.

LEGALITIES Around Gambling Debts

When we discuss debt from online gambling you should be clear about the nature of the debt, because who the money is owed to does make a difference. People are often unsure concerning the legality of debts from online gambling. In the UK it is possible to gamble legally on credit and incur a debt, but this debt is not then enforceable through the law.

However, there is a significant point to make here, which is that this only applies if you are using credit extended by the business offering the gambling (casino, bookie, etc). If you use a credit card company to cover internet gambling, that is a legally enforceable debt the same as it would be in any other circumstance, because you have borrowed money from the credit card company, not the casino. It really is now against the law in america to use a credit card to pay for online gambling.

You will find that lots of bank cards will regard a payment to an internet gambling website as a advance loan. pg This is then clearly borrowing money from the card issuer and the debt you incur could be pursued through legal action. If you do use a credit card to cover online gambling this way, you should be aware that cash advances on credit cards are almost always charged at a higher rate of interest than normal credit for purchases.

How To Deal With Debts Caused By Gambling

In dealing with gambling debts, there are two separate issues to tackle. One may be the debt itself, and another may be the habit of gambling that resulted in the debt. Even if your debt is dealt with, it is likely to build up again if the primary cause is not tackled too. Let us first consider the problem of paying off the debt.

The principles for tackling debt are nearly always the same, irrespective of the sources of the debt. To permanently deal with debt you should not be turning over borrowing additional money or paying anyone to deal with your debt for you personally. These courses of action are likely to deepen your debt over time.

With a little advice, it is possible to deal with your financial situation yourself, by contacting creditors and agreeing terms for repayment that you can afford. There is clearly more to it than that, but it is beyond the scope of the particular article. The process is straightforward and allows you to take back control of your finances.