Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden

Håkansson, Anders; Widinghoff, Carolina

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967

Cited by 28 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The survey was discussed and created by the two authors in collaboration. Apart from structured instruments previously known from the literature (see below), other items, including their response options, were created for the present and unforeseen situation of COVID-19, and inspired by the research group’s previous studies in the area [ 15 , 16 , 24 ], impressions gathered from clinical work in a regional specialized gambling disorder facility [ 25 ] and by details in the current COVID-19-specific gambling regulation in the country [ 20 ]. Large parts of the present online survey were identical to the one used in the study in April/May 2020 [ 15 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These measures include a number of items related to gambling and potential life-style changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden: The 9-item survey tool Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI [ 26 ]). The PGSI is a well-established instrument for the measure of gambling problems in different levels of severity, and has been used also in previous online surveys in the present setting [ 15 , 16 , 24 ]. A Cronbach-alpha of the instrument of 0.77 has been reported [ 27 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Dichotomous questions about past-year use of each type of gambling (online casino, online sport betting, land-based sports betting, online horse betting, land-based horse betting, online lotteries, land-based lotteries, online poker, land-based electronic gambling machines, online bingo). Gambling types included were the ones typically occurring in previous online surveys in the same setting [ 15 , 16 , 24 ]. Questions about whether participants perceived that during the pandemic, they had changed the amount of time spent at home (much more time, slightly more time, unchanged, or less time at home), their alcohol consumption (increased, decreased, unchanged, or does not drink alcohol, neither now nor prior to the pandemic), and their gambling (increased, decreased, unchanged, or does not gamble, neither now nor prior to the pandemic).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All these items were worded in the same way as in the previous study [ 15 ]. History of self-exclusion from gambling in a nationwide self-exclusion service including all licensed gambling types, available since 1 January 2019 (questions derived from a previous study in the same setting [ 24 ]). Psychological distress measured with the Kessler-6 [ 28 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Changes of Gambling Patterns during COVID-19 in Sweden, and Potential for Preventive Policy Changes. A Second Look Nine Months into the Pandemic

Håkansson

Widinghoff

2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Gambling has been suggested as one of the potential mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In earlier self-report studies, increased gambling has been reported by a limited proportion of respondents characterized with a high degree of problem gambling. The present study, carried out with the same methodology and in the same geographical setting, around seven months later in the pandemic, aimed to repeat and to extend the understanding of potential gambling changes in the population during COVID-19. An anonymous sample of web panel members was assessed, altogether 2029 individuals (52% women, 10% moderate-risk or problem gamblers). Results indicated that 6% reported increased gambling, and 4% reported decreased gambling during the pandemic. Having increased gambling was associated with more severe gambling problems (OR 2.78, 95% confidence interval 2.27–3.40), increased alcohol consumption (OR 2.92, 1.71–4.98), and psychological distress (OR 3.38, 1.83–6.23). In the group reporting increased gambling during COVID-19, moderate-risk/problem gambling was very common (62%). Recent governmental policy interventions in the area were known to a minority (30%) of respondents, but awareness of the regulations was markedly more common in individuals with at least moderate-risk gambling (56%) and in self-excluders (78%). Reporting of any perceived influence from policy changes was low (3%), and divided between those reporting an increasing and decreasing effect, respectively. Increased gambling may be a consequence of COVID-19-related changes in everyday lives of individuals with problematic gambling patterns. Thus, a vulnerable group demonstrates higher rates of gambling migration and psychosocial problems, and may require particular attention in screening and treatment contexts, and further scientific evaluations.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Changes of Gambling Patterns during COVID-19 in Sweden, and Potential for Preventive Policy Changes. A Second Look Nine Months into the Pandemic

Håkansson

Widinghoff

2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

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The Efficacy of Voluntary Self-Exclusions in Reducing Gambling Among a Real-World Sample of British Online Casino Players

Hopfgartner

Auer²,

Helić

et al. 2023

J Gambl Stud

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Online gambling is a socially acceptable means of entertainment, but it can also have a negative impact on many areas of life and lead to problem gambling for a minority of individuals. In recent years, gambling operators have increasingly implemented responsible gambling tools to help at-risk gamblers control and limit their gambling. One such tool is voluntary self-exclusion (VSE), where gamblers can exclude themselves from the gambling platform for a self-selected period of time. Despite the widespread use of VSE, there are few published studies on the efficacy of VSE among online gamblers and none on whether (and what type of) gamblers return to gambling after self-exclusion and how VSE affects their wagering if they return. Using a secondary dataset, the present study empirically analyzed a real-world sample of 3,203 British online casino players who opted for a VSE between January 2021 and August 2022. Analysis showed that most players who took a short-term VSE (up to 38 days) started gambling again on the platform after their self-exclusion ended, while players who opted for long-term self-exclusion (more than 90 days) did not start gambling again on the platform. A return to the gambling platform after VSE was positively associated with (i) a shorter duration of the self-exclusion, (ii) being female, (iii) gambling on more days, (iv) placing more bets, (v) playing fewer type of games, and (vi) having a lower average number of deposits per day. Players who returned from VSE did not change their wagering compared to a matched control group. These results suggest that short-term VSE may not be as effective as long-term VSE in reducing gambling. Overall, the present findings suggest that gamblers returning from VSE should be closely monitored, especially if the reason for self-exclusion is related to problem gambling.

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Gambling Behavior of Excluded Gamblers in a Multi-venue Exclusion System: Results from a Three-Wave Survey Conducted in Switzerland

Lischer,

Schwarz,

Wallimann

et al. 2023

J Gambl Stud

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Gamblers enrolled in the Swiss Multi-Venue Exclusion Program completed a written questionnaire three times, at six-month intervals. In addition to sociodemographic information, they provided details of their gambling behavior, and completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised (SOGS-R). The excluded gamblers were compared to a control group of non-excluded gamblers who also completed the questionnaire. The baseline survey demonstrated that there was a significant association between gamblers status (excluded n = 87 and non-excluded n = 259) and income (p = .039), as well as debt situation (p < .001) and SOGS-R score classification (p < .001). Over the course of three surveys, 242 gamblers participated. Of these, 133 respondents were not excluded from casinos at any time, 33 were excluded at the time of the first survey wave and remained so, while the exclusion status of 76 respondents changed over time, thus they were excluded for a minimum of one wave. Overall, 12.1% of excluded individuals stopped gambling altogether. Although exclusion is circumvented by some gamblers, it is associated with significant reductions in frequency, duration, and expenditure, as well as severity of problem gambling. The effects were more significant among gamblers who were excluded from casinos during the entire survey period. The results suggest that the duration of an exclusion should be at least six months instead of the current three months. 62.6% of the excluded gamblers had at least one exclusion lifted during the survey period. Further research is needed to investigate the implications of repeated exclusions for gambling-specific problems.

show abstract

Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden

Cited by 28 publications

References 43 publications

Changes of Gambling Patterns during COVID-19 in Sweden, and Potential for Preventive Policy Changes. A Second Look Nine Months into the Pandemic

Changes of Gambling Patterns during COVID-19 in Sweden, and Potential for Preventive Policy Changes. A Second Look Nine Months into the Pandemic

The Efficacy of Voluntary Self-Exclusions in Reducing Gambling Among a Real-World Sample of British Online Casino Players

Gambling Behavior of Excluded Gamblers in a Multi-venue Exclusion System: Results from a Three-Wave Survey Conducted in Switzerland

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