Changes in Gambling Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Web Survey Study in Sweden

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed everyday life, and policy makers have raised concerns about possible changes in gambling patterns during the pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether self-reported gambling has increased during the pandemic, and to examine potential correlates of such a change. This general population survey study in Sweden collected self-report data from 2016 web survey members (51 percent men, nine percent moderate-risk/problem gamblers). Correlates of increased gambling and increased gambling specifically due to COVID-19-related cancellation of sports were calculated. Four percent reported an overall gambling increase during the pandemic. The proportion of individuals reporting an increase, compared to individuals reporting a decrease, was markedly higher for online casinos (0.62), online horse betting (0.76) and online lotteries (0.73), and lower for sports betting (0.11). Overall, gambling increases were independently associated with gambling problems and increased alcohol consumption. In the sub-group, where there was an increase in specific gambling types in response to cancelled sports betting events, rates of gambling problems were high. In conclusion, only a minority report increased gambling in response to the pandemic, but this group has markedly higher gambling problems and changes in alcohol consumption, and may represent a sub-group with a particularly high vulnerability. This calls for preventive action in people with higher gambling risks in response to the pandemic.

Transitioning Between Online Gambling Modalities and Decrease in Total Gambling Activity, but No Indication of Increase in Problematic Online Gambling Intensity During the First Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Sweden: A Time Series Forecast Study

“…e-sports betting and to some degree horse race betting (which in Sweden continues but without an audience). To what extent online casino gambling would increase as betting and offline casino gambling decreased was unclear, with previous research suggesting no major transition effects (21) but that those that did transition were more likely to be problem gamblers (10).…”

“…A population survey study conducted in Sweden found that only 4% of gamblers reported gambling more during the COVID-19 crisis, 51% reported no difference and seven percent reported gambling less (the remaining percentage did not gamble), only a few percentages of whom transitioned to other gambling modalities. Gamblers who reported increased gambling, and those who transitioned to other modalities were, however, more likely to have gambling problems (10). Importantly, without longitudinal data, or reliable and applicable stability estimates, one cannot say that the proportion who reported an increase or decrease in gambling is higher than what would be naturally expected.…”

“…In Sweden, public concerns were raised at an early stage of the outbreak that social distancing has increased gambling activity and possibly the prevalence of problem gambling (9), inciting the Swedish government to introduce temporary legislation (a decree, 2020:495) to the Swedish gambling market that includes a deposit limit on online casinos of 5,000 SEK per week (per gambling provider) and obligatory duration limits. Similar actions were taken in other countries with regards to gambling (10). The exact rationale and supporting evidence for this new Swedish legislation was not publicly disclosed and gambling providers reacted by raising the concern that these measures may disturb the delicate balance on the Swedish gambling market by channeling problem gamblers from licensed providers with responsible gambling obligations, to non-licensed providers lacking such obligations.…”

“…At time of writing, four studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on gambling: three cross-sectional survey studies (10,19,20) and one using aggregated time series from a multinational gambling provider (21). Two deserve special mention in the context of the current study.…”

Bad Air Can Also Kill: Residential Indoor Air Quality and Pollutant Exposure Risk during the COVID-19 Crisis

“…A similar study was conducted in Portugal, in which the lifestyle habits, anxiety levels, and basic psychological needs (BPN) in Portuguese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized, including a comparison between sex and age groups [ 8 ]. Other studied parameters of interest include the population’s activity level and anxiety [ 9 ], and the relationship with addiction [ 10 ].…”