Understanding why people continue to gamble while self-excluded in Sweden

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Author(s): Håkansson, Anders ; Widinghoff, Carolina

Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry

Year Published: 2020

Date Added: April 12, 2021

This research examined self-exclusion and gambling despite the exclusion among Swedish people who gambled online. The researchers surveyed 997 participants. The results revealed that 25 participants (7% of the participants) had self-excluded. Among those who had self-excluded, many reported to have breached their self-exclusion terms to gamble (38%). Those who self-excluded were more likely to be women, younger, and admit that they felt a need to seek treatment. They also had higher rates of psychological distress and were more likely to experience problem gambling. Self-exclusion was strongly associated with online casino gambling and having more severe gambling problems.

Citation: Håkansson, A., & Widinghoff, C. (2020). Gambling despite nationwide self-exclusion: A survey in online gamblers in Sweden. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 599967. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967

Keywords: behavioural addictions ; gambling disorder ; harm reduction ; online gambling ; problem gambling ; self-exclusion

Topics: Gambling Resources ; Information for Operators ; Information for Treatment Providers ; Online Gambling ; Prevention

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Resources - Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Protection ; Gambling Environment ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Sweden

Study Population: A total of 997 participants (75% men) who ranged between 18 to 70+ years of age. All reported online gambling on at least 10 occasions in the past year.

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited from a pre-existing web panel of the market survey company Ipsos.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Swedish hospital organization Region Skåne and the state-owned gambling operator AB Svenska Spel (provided to the first author).