The finding of a recent study by Gambling Research Australia shows no online gambling addiction link, and that there is no proof to back claims that online gambling addiction is brought about by simply playing internet casino games like blackjack or slot machines.

The study included 15,000 phone interviews, 500 online surveys and 50 one-on-one interviews taken in person. The interviews were taken from gamblers and 31 of the 50 spoken to had previously sought help for a gambling problem. The study, released just weeks ago, highlighted a number of interesting revelations and figures.

A large percentage of gamblers believe that the “doomswitch” is a reality. 37.6 per cent of those surveyed said that they believed that there is a “switch” that allows gambling businesses and website operators to use software to change the odds so that the gambler loses money. This is a myth that the online industry has campaigned long and hard to disprove.

Approximately 25 percent of people who play poker online do not gamble in other bricks and mortar venues. The remaining 75 per cent also play in casinos. People who said they gambled online reported that they lost about $10 in the past month and those surveyed who played in casinos claimed that they tend to win an average of around $50.

According to the study, most of the problem gamblers surveyed start out gambling in casinos and then begin to play online, rather than vice versa. This online gambling addiction story originally appeared on AustralianGambling.com.au