Gambling and problem gambling in Canada before and during the COVID-19 lockdown

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Author(s): Shaw, Carrie A. ; Hodgins, David C. ; Williams, Robert J. ; Belanger, Yale D. ; Christensen, Darren R. ; el-Guebaly, Nady ; McGrath, Daniel S. ; Nicoll, Fiona ; Smith, Garry J. ; Stevens, Rhys M. G.

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: October 06, 2021

The researchers examined the impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on gambling and problem gambling among Canadian adults. They compared the participants’ gambling during the lockdown to what they had reported six months earlier. Data came from 3,449 participants. Almost one-third of participants stopped gambling during the lockdown. About 17.6% of participants who gambled in-person only started to gamble online. People who continued to gamble during the lockdown engaged in fewer types of gambling, gambled less frequently, and spent less time and money. Problem gambling generally decreased. Perceptions of changes in gambling did not closely align with actual changes. A number of gambling-specific and non-gambling specific factors predicted problem gambling during the lockdown.

Citation: Shaw, C. A., Hodgins, D. C., Williams, R. J., Belanger, Y. D., Christensen, D. R., el‑Guebaly, N., McGrath, D. S., Nicoll, F., Smith, G. J., & Stevens, R. M. G. (2021). Gambling in Canada during the COVID lockdown: Prospective national survey. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-021-10073-8

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-021-10073-8

Keywords: COVID-19 ; gambling ; online gambling ; problem gambling ; survey

Topics: Online Gambling

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

Response Rate: 72.2% retention rate from the ANP follow-up

Study Design: Longitudinal

Geographic Coverage: Canada

Study Population: Adults aged 18 and older who reported gambling and participated in the AGRI National Project (ANP) follow-up assessment in 2019 and the COVID-Lockdown survey in 2020 (n = 3449)

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited through Leger Opinion (LEO) to participate in the AGRI National Project (ANP) in 2018. They were recontacted in 2019 to participate in a follow-up survey (used as pre-COVID baseline data). Between May and June 1, 2020, those who completed the follow-up assessment were recontacted to participate in the COVID-Lockdown survey.

Study Funding:

This research was funded by AGRI and the AGRI National Project (ANP), which received funding from AGRI, the Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research, the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Addiction, and Greo.