Gambling and self-reported changes in gambling during COVID-19 in web survey respondents in Denmark

Loss of resources and gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic: a three-wave longitudinal study

This study is based on the Conservation of Resources theory and investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated resource loss on gambling behaviour among Polish gamblers. The study surveyed 585 individuals engaged in land-based gambling before the pandemic. Participants completed computer-assisted web interviews, responding to questions regarding land-based and online gambling frequencies, the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and the Inventory of Loss of Resources in Pandemics. The findings revealed significant shifts in gambling behaviour due to pandemic-related restrictions. Land-based gambling declined during lockdowns and the third wave of the study, while online gambling surged as gamblers transitioned from land-based venues. Gamblers tended to return to land-based options as restrictions eased. Over consecutive waves, participants reported decreasing resource loss levels. Significantly, resource loss was influenced by gambling frequency rather than vice versa. Both types of gambling experienced parallel declines at the beginning of the pandemic, which subsided as the new situation became normalised. Players engaging more in gambling experienced more significant resource losses during the pandemic. Those with more resources at the pandemic's onset adapted more readily, whereas individuals with limited resources faced resource loss. Conclusions Even with stable gambling levels, heavy gamblers at baseline were at higher risk for issues. The dynamics between resource loss and gambling and problem gambling supported the resource loss spiral concept.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gambling: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, people's habits changed radically. In fact, to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, governments implemented restrictive measures that influenced the lives of individuals. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on gambling by examining three different outcomes: frequency, expenditure, and transition among possible types of gambling.

METHODS

All studies assessing the impact of restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 on gambling were included. For the search, two different databases were used: Pubmed and CINAHL. Moreover, two different populations were analyzed: the general population, and subjects who used to gamble before SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. All qualitative studies, reports not based on peer-review, and papers in which the statistical unit was not the subject but the gambling or wagering operators were excluded.

RESULTS

From the search, 408 reports were identified. Of these, 28 were included in the systematic review. From the studies, a strong reduction in the frequency and expenditure of land-based gambling emerged, while the results about online gambling were different among the studies. However, a reduction was observed assessing sports betting, and an increase emerged considering online casino and skill games. Finally, a significant migration from land-based gambling to online platforms was identified. The main reasons for these findings were the physical closures of land-based gambling venues and the more time spent at home, the suspension or cancelation of sporting events on which subjects used to bet, and more mental health issues during this challenging period.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected subjects' habits, including gambling, by reducing land-based gambling and sports betting, and increasing gambling on online platforms. This shift poses significant challenges, requiring a comprehensive approach to monitor and mitigate the negative consequences of this increase in online gambling caused by the pandemic.

Gambling helpline contacts during COVID-19-related availability restrictions: an interrupted time series analysis

OBJECTIVES

Gambling causes significant public health harms that are addressed in the help service network. Helplines are the most widely used service among those experiencing harms. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the global gambling landscape. This study assesses the effect of COVID-19-related restrictions on help-seeking for gambling via helplines.

STUDY DESIGN

We analysed data of national helplines in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark before and during the pandemic. The countries differed in their restrictions on the availability and accessibility of gambling during the pandemic.

METHODS

We performed an interrupted time series analysis of contact and web traffic data to helplines in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2021). We also compared forecasted time series to the actual data to assess change.

RESULTS

The results show diverging patterns across the three countries. In Sweden, the number of helpline contacts remained stable throughout COVID-19, but there was an increasing trend in website visits. In Finland, the number of contacts declined during the first wave but rebounded during the second wave. Website visitation increased moderately. In Denmark, the number of contacts to the helpline soared over the COVID-19 period.

CONCLUSIONS

The diverging results suggest that help-seeking behaviour is likely to be impacted by differing policy approaches to gambling availability and limit-setting, visibility of helplines, and the prevalence of different forms of gambling in the three Nordic countries before and during the pandemic. This has implications for a preventive public health approach for gambling.

COVID-19 and resultant restrictions on gambling behaviour

Since the onset of COVID-19, studies suggest a significant increase in online gambling, potentially facilitated by increased time at home, social isolation and boredom. This study aimed to address what is known about the impact of the pandemic on gambling behaviour by conducting a mapping review. A systematic literature search was conducted using four online databases. Additional studies were identified using reference lists. Relevant studies were quality scored and their findings synthesised in terms of overall changes at the population level and potentially vulnerable groups. The weight of evidence from 35 relevant reports across 12 countries indicated reductions of gambling during the pandemic at the level of the general population. However, marked increases in gambling amongst vulnerable sub-populations including amongst young adults and people with pre-existing at-risk gambling were also noted. The impact of COVID-19 on gambling is highly contingent on context. If policy makers examine only population level data, this could overlook profound negative effects identified in those with at-risk gambling, gambling disorder, and amongst young adults.

Gambling, Gaming, and Internet Behavior in a Sexual Minority Perspective. A Cross-Sectional Study in Seven European Countries

Background

Addictive behavior of gambling, gaming and internet activity is partly a new research domain and has not been well investigated with regard to sexual minority populations. Although health disparities between sexual minorities and the general population are well documented, there is a lack of inclusion of sexual minorities in both research and clinic. Among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations certain features could be present that play a role for the development of addictive behaviors, such as social isolation and increased risk of other psychiatric problems. The aim of this study was to investigate problem gambling, problem gaming and problematic internet behavior in a European context and if it is affected by sexual orientation status.

Methods

An online web-survey was distributed among web-panels in England, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Sweden in 2017-2018.

Result

10 983 complete answers were collected. 7.1% of the participants had a sexual minority status (n = 774). Regression models found that there was no difference in gambling, gaming and internet behavior among heterosexual and sexual minority men. Sexual minority women were associated with problematic gambling and gaming behavior, when also controlling for age and nationality. When also controlling for psychological distress, women defining as having another sexual minority status than lesbian and bisexual remained significant for having a problematic gaming behavior (AOR = 2.3).

Conclusion

An awareness of female sexual minority perspectives is relevant in facilities treating behavioral addiction as well as in future research in behavioral addiction. More research is needed in problematic gambling and gaming behavior in different sexual minority populations with regard to psychiatric comorbidity and living conditions. An inclusion of sexual minority groups defining as other than gay and bisexual is needed in future research. No significant differences were found between heterosexual and sexual minority men in adjusted analysis in this study.