Changes in online gambling and other addictive behaviours during COVID-19

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Author(s): Xuereb, Silas ; Kim, Hyoun S. ; Clark, Luke ; Wohl, Michael J. A.

Journal: International Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: July 26, 2021

Land-based gambling venues were closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If someone wanted to gamble, they had to gamble online. The pandemic brought with it many challenges, including boredom, isolation, and financial hardship. All of these factors may motivate people to gamble or to engage in other addictive behaviours, such as alcohol use. This study examined the patterns of online gambling, substance use, and other technology use (e.g., video gaming) after land-based gambling venues were closed in the U.S. The researchers found that online gambling decreased but other addictive behaviours increased. People with more problem gambling symptoms increased their online gambling or started to gamble online during this time. They also increased their use of alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and online casino gaming.

Citation: Xuereb, S., Kim, H. S., Clark, L., & Wohl, M. J. A. (2021). Substitution behaviors among people who gamble during COVID-19 precipitated casino closures. International Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2021.1903062

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2021.1903062

Keywords: addiction ; COVID-19 ; gambling ; gambling behaviours ; migration ; online gambling ; substance use

Topics: Comorbidities ; Online Gambling ; Substance Use

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Types - Motivational Characteristics ; Gambling Exposure

Study Design: Other Review

Geographic Coverage: United States of America

Study Population: 424 adult Americans who reported land-based gambling at a casino in the past three months

Sampling Procedure: Voluntary response sampling (the study was posted on Amazon’s MTurk platform, and people using that platform could complete the survey for a small monetary compensation [$0.75 USD])

Study Funding:

This study was funded by a Discovery Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (held by Luke Clark), and a Large Grant from the International Center for Responsible Gambling (held by Michael J. A. Wohl).