As cryptocurrency gambling becomes more popular among adolescents, questions about security, safety, legitimacy and availability of responsible gambling tools on cryptocurrency gambling sites arise. This paper provides a systematic literature review on current responsible gambling tools and assesses the availability of said responsible gambling tools on the fifty most popular cryptocurrency gambling websites. Age verification was voluntarily available on 92% of the gambling websites. Only 10% of the sites required identity verification (KYC) to allow a deposit and less than 25% provided the ability to set wager or loss limits. Cooling off periods (66%) and self-exclusion (82%) were more common but often required the user to contact customer support. Out of operators who hosted a responsible gambling page (88%), not even one addressed cryptocurrency specific risks. The findings indicate major gaps in harm reduction measures and thus the need for better regulation and research into gambling protections that work on cryptocurrency-based platforms.
References
[1]
Andrade, M., & Newall, P. W. S. (2023). Cryptocurrencies as Gamblified Financial Assets and Cryptocasinos: Novel Risks for a Public Health Approach to Gambling. Risks,11, Article 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks11030049
[2]
Andrade, M., Sharman, S., Xiao, L. Y., & Newall, P. W. S. (2022). Safer Gambling and Consumer Protection Failings among 40 Frequently Visited Cryptocurrency-Based Online Gambling Operators. PsychologyofAddictiveBehaviors,37, 545-557. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000885
[3]
Auer, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2019). Predicting Limit-Setting Behavior of Gamblers Using Machine Learning Algorithms: A Real-World Study of Norwegian Gamblers Using Account Data. InternationalJournalofMentalHealthandAddiction,20, 771-788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00166-2
[4]
Auer, M., Hopfgartner, N., & Griffiths, M. D. (2019). The Effects of Voluntary Deposit Limit-Setting on Long-Term Online Gambling Expenditure. Cyberpsychology,Behavior,andSocialNetworking,23, 113-118. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.0202
[5]
Blinn-Pike, L., Worthy, S. L., & Jonkman, J. N. (2010). Adolescent Gambling: A Review of an Emerging Field of Research. JournalofAdolescentHealth,47, 223-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.05.003
[6]
Calado, F., Alexandre, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Prevalence of Adolescent Problem Gambling: A Systematic Review of Recent Research. JournalofGamblingStudies,33, 397-424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9627-5
[7]
Chóliz, M. (2015). The Challenge of Online Gambling: The Effect of Legalization on the Increase in Online Gambling Addiction. JournalofGamblingStudies,32, 749-756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-015-9558-6
[8]
Derevensky, J. L., & Gainsbury, S. M. (2015). Social Casino Gaming and Adolescents: Should We Be Concerned and Is Regulation in Sight? InternationalJournalofLawandPsychiatry,44, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.08.025
[9]
Esparza-Reig, J., Martí-Vilar, M., & González-Sala, F. (2021). Motives for Gambling, Cognitive Distortions, and Irresponsible Gambling: Proposal for an Explanatory Model of Gambling Addiction in University Students. JournalofAddictiveDiseases,40, 19-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2021.1922048
[10]
Gainsbury, S. M. (2015). Online Gambling Addiction: The Relationship between Internet Gambling and Disordered Gambling. CurrentAddictionReports,2, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-015-0057-8
[11]
Gainsbury, S. M., & Blaszczynski, A. (2017). How Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Technology Could Revolutionize Online Gambling. GamingLawReview,21, 482-492. https://doi.org/10.1089/glr2.2017.2174
[12]
Kim, H. S., Leslie, R. D., Stewart, S. H., King, D. L., Demetrovics, Z., Andrade, A. L. M. et al. (2023). A Scoping Review of the Association between Loot Boxes, Esports, Skin Betting, and Token Wagering with Gambling and Video Gaming Behaviors. JournalofBehavioralAddictions,12, 309-351. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00013
[13]
Lee, U., E. Lewis, L., & J. Mills, D. (2023). Association between Gambling and Financial Trading: A Systemic Review. F1000Research,12, Article 111. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.129754.1
[14]
Marionneau, V., & Järvinen-Tassopoulos, J. (2021). Treatment and Help Services for Gambling during COVID-19: Experiences of Gamblers and Their Concerned Significant Others. NordicStudiesonAlcoholandDrugs,39, 10-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/14550725211030727
[15]
Monreal-Bartolomé, A., Barceló-Soler, A., García-Campayo, J., Bartolomé-Moreno, C., Cortés-Montávez, P., Acon, E. et al. (2023). Preventive Gambling Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review. InternationalJournalofEnvironmentalResearchandPublicHealth,20, Article 4691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064691
[16]
Montañés, M. C., Cervera-Ortiz, L., & Luján-Barrera, A. (2024). Information Is Not Enough: A Critical Perspective on Responsible Gambling Policies to Gambling Disorder Prevention. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4353966/v1
[17]
Newall, P. W. S., Weiss‐Cohen, L., Singmann, H., Boyce, W. P., Walasek, L., & Rockloff, M. (2021). A Speed-of-Play Limit Reduces Gambling Expenditure inan Online Roulette Game:Resultsofan Online Experiment. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/cv3yj
[18]
Omelchenko, A., Serdiukov, O., Moshkovskyi, A., Symon, Y., & Andrushchenko, I. (2023). Administrative and Legal Aspects Related to Combat Gambling and Computer Addiction in Young People. RevistadelaUniversidaddelZulia,14, 299-314. https://doi.org/10.46925//rdluz.40.17
[19]
Pluta, A. (2025a). Cryptocurrency Casinos—2025 Full List. https://dgbetz.com/research/cryptocurrency-gambling-operators-2025-report/
[20]
Pluta, A. (2025b). BC.game Casino Review—Better Than Stake? https://dgbetz.com/bc-game-casino-review/
[21]
Pluta, A. (2025c). Coins.game Casino Review—Massive Bonus with a Catch? https://dgbetz.com/coins-game-casino-review/
[22]
Şentürk, E., Coşar, B., & Arikan, Z. (2023). Relationship of Cryptocurrencies with Gambling and Addiction. PsikiyatrideGüncelYaklaşımlar,15, 348-355. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1127924
[23]
Shi, J., Colder Carras, M., Potenza, M. N., & Turner, N. E. (2021). A Perspective on Age Restrictions and Other Harm Reduction Approaches Targeting Youth Online Gambling, Considering Convergences of Gambling and Videogaming. FrontiersinPsychiatry,11, Article 601712. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.601712
[24]
Sonkurt, H. O., & Altınöz, A. E. (2021). Cryptocurrency Investment: A Safe Venture or a New Type of Gambling? JournalofGamblingIssues. https://doi.org/10.4309/jgi.2021.47.8
[25]
Wilber, M. K., & Potenza, M. N. (2006). Adolescent Gambling: Research and Clinical Implications. Psychiatry, 3, 40-48. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20877546
