Gambling During the COVID-19 Crisis – A Cause for Concern

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to worsen mental health problems in the general population, including increasing engagement in addictive behaviors. Here, we describe observations suggesting that the current crisis and its sequelae may worsen problem gambling. The current pandemic may impact financial and psychological well-being due to social isolation during spatial distancing, and these stressors in conjunction with substantial changes in gambling markets (land-based, online) during the pandemic may significantly influence gambling behaviors. This situation calls for rapid research initiatives in this area and preventive and regulatory measures by multiple stakeholders.

COVID-19 and addiction

“…Apart from its ill effects on mental health, increased screen time leads to decreased physical activity, altered eating habits and disrupted circadian rhythm which ultimately culminate into magnitude of cardiometabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes [2,69]. Due to financial burden and uncertain future problem gambling is looming large [70,71]. Eating disorders and compulsive buying are probably less prevalent in Indian scenario, yet increasingly being reported in Western countries [72,73].…”

Psychological Distress and Problem Gambling in Elite Athletes during COVID-19 Restrictions—A Web Survey in Top Leagues of Three Sports during the Pandemic

“…Recently, media reports of a European survey in elite soccer players revealed markedly increased rates of depression and anxiety in soccer players during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to a recent survey carried out prior to this crisis [11]. Likewise, addictive behavior is one of the mental health issues raised by researchers with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic [12][13][14], including an increased risk of alcohol problems, drug problems and behavioral addictions including problem gambling [15]. For example, researchers have expressed the concerns that alcohol consumption may be increased by the pandemic [16] and early data demonstrate that a significant minority of the population may have increased their consumption in line with other changes in everyday lives [17].…”

“…Specific concerns about gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with more time spent online when at home [27], increased gambling in the context of increased mental distress and the potential change in gambling patterns when the world of sports closed down, hypothetically favoring other rapid, high-access online gambling types [15], altogether concerns leading to policy interventions by governments in several countries [28][29][30]. A recent general population study-in the same geographical setting as the one assessed here-demonstrated that a minority of respondents reported an increase in gambling during the pandemic, and although these respondents were fewer than those reporting a decrease, their rates of problem gambling were markedly higher than in others [31].…”

Screening for Gambling Disorder in VA Primary Care Behavioral Health: A Pilot Study

“…In addition, future research is needed to determine types of treatment delivery (internetbased vs. face-to-face psychotherapy, pharmacology) that are both appealing and effective for treating GD among veterans. Internet-based interventions may be particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be impacting gambling and help-seeking behaviors (Håkansson et al, 2020). Gambling research in veteran populations is particularly important as veterans have been identified as a high-risk group for developing problem gambling; however, research evaluating effective treatment strategies for this population remains limited (Etuk et al, 2020).…”