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Social distancing, stress, and the closure or limitations on recreational activities outside of the home may influence the use of gambling and gaming as a form of leisure.1,2 Gambling and gaming are easily accessed through a variety of online and remote platforms, and may fill time previously filled by other activities. While gambling may be a harmless and fun activity for occasional gamblers,3 increased participation in gaming and gambling could also have negative impacts on physical and emotional wellbeing.3,4 Increased use of video games and social casino games may lead to the normalization of gambling and the development of problem gambling behaviours.5,6 Health implications of living with a gambling problem include a poorer sense of wellbeing, higher levels of stress,7,8 and potential for health-related problems such as obesity.9
We have curated recent evidence that may help our stakeholders make informed decisions regarding the relationship between gambling, health, and leisure during COVID-19.
Key Resources:
COVID-19 related distress and gambling in elite athletes (GREO Research Snapshot)
The link between obesity and gambling (GREO Research Snapshot)
Men who are highly involved in fitness may be at risk of problem gambling (GREO Research Snapshot)
Internet-related disorders are associated with poor physical health and functioning (GREO Research Snapshot)
Non-problem gambling may have positive effects on wellbeing (GREO Research Snapshot)
Gambling as a leisure activity and its relation to satisfaction of psychological needs (GREO Research Snapshot)
Do video games lead to gambling? (GREO Research Snapshot)
How are video games and gambling converging? (GREO Evidence Exchange)
The link between buying loot boxes in video games, problem video gaming, and problem gambling (GREO Research Snapshot)
Esports viewing, and not video gaming, is associated with increased gambling participation (GREO Research Snapshot)
Social casino games: Current evidence and future directions (GREO White paper)
How is gambling participation related to obesity among men and women who gamble? (GREO Research Snapshot)
Want to learn more about gambling, health, and leisure?
Have a specific question about gambling, health, and leisure? Reach out to the GREO team at info@greo.ca.
COVID-19: News and Emerging Research
COVID 19: Events and Learning Opportunities
| References |
| 1Johnson M. Australians gamble online 67% more during pandemic lockdown. Gambling News. Available from: www.gamblingnews.com/news/australians-gamble-online-67-more-during-pandemic-lockdown/
2Hacohen H. Coronavirus leads to massive increase in online gambling. The Jerusalem Post. Available from: www.jpost.com/israel-news/coronavirus-leads-to-massive-increase-in-online-gambling-622326 3Wood RT, Griffiths MD. Understanding positive play: An exploration of playing experiences and responsible gambling practices. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2015;31(4):1715-34. Available from: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-014-9489-7 4Parke J, Williams RJ, Schofield P. Exploring psychological need satisfaction from gambling participation and the moderating influence of game preferences. International Gambling Studies. 2019;19(3):508-31. Available from: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14459795.2019.1633381 5King DL, Delfabbro PH. The convergence of gambling and monetised gaming activities. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2020;31:32-6. 6Molde H, Holmøy B, Merkesdal AG, Torsheim T, Mentzoni RA, Hanns D, et al. Are video games a gateway to gambling? A longitudinal study based on a representative norwegian sample. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2019;35(2):545-57. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6517345/ 7Farrell L. Understanding the relationship between subjective wellbeing and gambling behavior. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2018;34(1):55-71. Available from: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-017-9692-4 8McCormack A, Griffiths M. The effects of problem gambling on quality of life and wellbeing: A qualitative comparison of online and offline problem gamblers. Gambling Research: Journal of the National Association for Gambling Studies (Australia). 2011;23(1):63. Available from: www.academia.edu/429384/ 9Black DW, Shaw M, McCormick B, Allen J. Pathological gambling: Relationship to obesity, self-reported chronic medical conditions, poor lifestyle choices, and impaired quality of life. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2013;54(2):97-104. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3514656/ |