Understanding the lived experiences of adults who increased online gambling participation during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Author(s): Savard, Annie-Claude ; Kairouz, Sylvia ; Nadeau-Tremblay, Juliette ; Brodeur, Magaly ; Ferland, Francine ; French, Martin ; Morvannou, Adèle ; Blanchette-Martin, Nadine ; Dufour, Magali ; VanMourik, Valérie ; Monson, Eva

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2024

Date Added: October 26, 2024

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of adults who reported an increase in online gambling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 58 adults living in Québec, Canada, were interviewed. For many participants, their online gambling increased in frequency, as well as time and money spent, during the pandemic. Some participants noted that the increase in their online gambling only happened for a short duration, while others noted a more sustained increase. Several structural elements supported the increase in online gambling, including the online gambling environment (e.g., ease of access, ease of making payments online, diverse forms of gambling available) as well as online gambling operators’ practices (e.g., loyalty practices, advertisements, promotional offers). Participants also discussed the role of online gambling during the pandemic in their daily lives.

Citation: Savard, A. C., Kairouz, S., Nadeau-Tremblay, J. Brodeur, M., Ferland, F., French, M., Morvannou, A., Blanchette-Martin, N., Dufour, M., VanMourik, V., & Monson, E. (2024). “It would never have happened without the pandemic”: Understanding the lived experience of individuals who increased their online gambling participation. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10336-0

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10336-0

Keywords: COVID-19 ; gambling ; gambling operators ; online gambling

Topics: Online Gambling

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

Study Design: Qualitative: Content Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Quebec

Study Population: Adults living in Québec, Canada, who reported an increase in online gambling participation during the COVID-19 pandemic (n=58).

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited from a sample of 4,705 people who completed the first wave of a longitudinal population survey on online gambling habits in 2021 and indicated that they would be interested in taking part in a follow-up interview. This study only focused on participants who reported an increase in online gambling participation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Funding:

This study was supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Services.