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The U.S. and Canada should legalize and control online gambling to reduce negative effects, because gamblers play more aggressively online than they do in casinos, according to a joint study by the University of Western Ontario in Canada and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

The study found that even though online gambling is illegal in the U.S. and Canada it is still easy for gamblers to gain access to sites that are located in other countries. More than $10 billion is spent annually worldwide by people gambling online.

"Just as legalized commercial gambling in casinos allows governments to regulate it, so, too, could the legalization of online gambling allow for better regulation and attempts to reduce the growth of problem gamblers," said June Cotte, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Western Ontario.

Research found online gamblers gamble more frequently and aggressively than they do at casinos. Online gambling does not require gamblers to travel to an outside location, and is less difficult to hide. Online gambling lacks social interaction and appeals to gamblers competitiveness, increasing their risk of addiction.

The study recommends legalizing and regulating online gambling, similar to the way casino gambling is regulated, to help cut down on problem gambling.

Some strategies that could be used for online gambling regulations include setting financial limits for gamblers, having an online gambling counselor available, and having a mandatory "cooling -off period" that would require online gamblers to stop gambling for a specific amount of time.

"The unregulated online environment results in a more chaotic environment with no clear social norms and rules. The meaning of gambling changes, moving from a shared conviviality available in the casino to a no-holds-barred battle online. It brings out the gamblers' more competitive side," said Cotte.