This study examined self-reported changes in gambling habits and reasons for such changes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative survey of 4,676 adults who gambled online and lived in Québec, Canada, was conducted in 2021. This was followed by interviews with 96 participants. The prevalence of online gambling during the first year of the pandemic was estimated to be 15.6–20.3%. About 5.6% of participants gambled online for the first time during the pandemic, while 14.7% gambled online both before and during the pandemic. Only 1.4% of participants quit online gambling during the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic was similar for frequency, amount of money, and time spent on different online gambling activities. But day trading increased the most during the pandemic. Participants provided various reasons for stopping or decreasing online gambling during the pandemic, including being less interested in online gambling and having less time and money to dedicate to gambling. The reasons for starting or increasing online gambling included having more time, gambling in the hope of earning money, and to deal with stress and boredom.
