A comparison of gambling risk before, during, and after the Australian COVID-19 lockdown

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Author(s): Hing, Nerilee ; Russell, Alex M. T. ; Rawat, Vijay ; Bryden, Gabrielle Maria ; Browne, Matthew ; Rockloff, Matthew J. ; Thorne, Hannah B. ; Newall, Philip W. S. ; Dowling, Nicki A. ; Merkouris, Stephanie ; Stevens, Matthew

Journal: Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Year Published: 2024

Date Added: May 10, 2024

The purpose of this study was to compare gambling risk status before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia in 2020. A total of 458 participants completed all three surveys which covered four time periods: before lockdown, during lockdown, one year post lockdown, and two years after lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, there was a decline in gambling participation overall and in participation in each gambling form during lockdown. There was also a decrease in the number of people who reported any problem gambling symptoms. After lockdown, gambling participation and having any problem gambling symptoms increased. During lockdown, restriction on the availability of certain high-risk gambling activities (e.g., electronic gaming machines (EGMs), casino games, and sports betting) was linked to transition from at-risk to non-problem gambling. Respondents who had no problem gambling symptoms during lockdown but were at-risk of problem gambling after lockdown were more likely to bet frequently on EGMs or to have decreased their frequency of online gambling. They also had higher stress, psychological distress, and loneliness.

Citation: Hing, N., Russell, A. M. T., Rawat, V., Bryden, G. M., Browne, M., Rockloff, M., Thorne, H. B., Newall, P., Dowling, N. A., Merkouris, S. S., & Stevens, M. (2024). The COVID-19 lockdown experience suggests that restricting the supply of gambling can reduce gambling problems: An Australian prospective study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 13(1), 146–162. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00085

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00085

Keywords: COVID-19 ; gambling disorder ; gambling harm ; problem gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Environment ; Environment - Public Policy

Study Design: Longitudinal

Geographic Coverage: Australia

Study Population: Australians at least 18 years old who gambled at least once in the 12 months prior to the COVID-19 lockdown from late March to late May 2020 (N=2,125).

Sampling Procedure: Respondents were recruited in two ways: 1) using an institutional research panel that consisted of participants who previously completed gambling surveys and who expressed interest in participating in future studies; and 2) using the panel aggregator Qualtrics.

Study Funding:

This study received funding through the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.