Change in online gambling during COVID-19 is associated with poorer mental health over time and financial concerns

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Author(s): Price, Alex ; Tabri, Nassim ; Stark, Sasha ; Balodis, Iris M. ; Wohl, Michael J. A.

Journal: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: April 14, 2022

The researchers surveyed adults who had gambled in the past 12 months at two time points. The first survey was in April 2020 during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in Ontario, Canada. The second survey was in August 2020, when most lockdown measures had eased. The researchers identified three subgroups of participants. Subgroup 1 did not play online gambling games. Subgroup 2 played a wide range of online gambling games and reported a change in their gambling involvement. Some decreased their gambling whereas others increased their gambling. Subgroup 3 mainly played online lottery and reported no change in their gambling. The researchers found that change in online gambling was associated with poorer mental health over time, experiencing negative impacts on household income due to COVID-19, being more financially focused, and having more severe gambling problems.

Citation: Price, A., Tabri, N., Stark, S., Balodis, I. M., & Wohl, M. J. A. (2022). Mental health over time and financial concerns predict change in online gambling during COVID‑19. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00750-5

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00750-5

Keywords: COVID-19 ; financial impacts ; mental health ; motivation ; motivational factors ; online gambling ; problem gambling

Topics: Gambling Related Harms ; Individual Harms ; Online Gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Gambling Environment ; Environment - Public Policy ; Gambling Exposure

Study Design: Observational: Cohort

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Ontario

Study Population: Adults who had gambled at least once in the past 12 months (n = 940)

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited through Delvinia, an online survey sample provider located in Toronto. Wave 1 of data collection occurred at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown (April 2020). Wave 2 occurred in August 2020.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by Carleton University through a COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant.