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Catalano A, Milani L, Franco M, Buscema F, Giommarini I, Sodano B, Gilcrease W, Mondo L, Marra M, Di Girolamo C, Bena A, Ricceri F. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gambling: A systematic review. Addict Behav 2024; 155:108037. [PMID: 38613856 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Since the COVID-19 outbreak, people's habits changed radically. In fact, to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, governments implemented restrictive measures that influenced the lives of individuals. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on gambling by examining three different outcomes: frequency, expenditure, and transition among possible types of gambling. METHODS All studies assessing the impact of restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 on gambling were included. For the search, two different databases were used: Pubmed and CINAHL. Moreover, two different populations were analyzed: the general population, and subjects who used to gamble before SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. All qualitative studies, reports not based on peer-review, and papers in which the statistical unit was not the subject but the gambling or wagering operators were excluded. RESULTS From the search, 408 reports were identified. Of these, 28 were included in the systematic review. From the studies, a strong reduction in the frequency and expenditure of land-based gambling emerged, while the results about online gambling were different among the studies. However, a reduction was observed assessing sports betting, and an increase emerged considering online casino and skill games. Finally, a significant migration from land-based gambling to online platforms was identified. The main reasons for these findings were the physical closures of land-based gambling venues and the more time spent at home, the suspension or cancelation of sporting events on which subjects used to bet, and more mental health issues during this challenging period. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected subjects' habits, including gambling, by reducing land-based gambling and sports betting, and increasing gambling on online platforms. This shift poses significant challenges, requiring a comprehensive approach to monitor and mitigate the negative consequences of this increase in online gambling caused by the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Catalano
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Milani
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Matteo Franco
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Buscema
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilenia Giommarini
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Sodano
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy; Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Winston Gilcrease
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Mondo
- Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service ASL TO3, Grugliasco, (TO), Italy
| | - Michele Marra
- Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service ASL TO3, Grugliasco, (TO), Italy
| | - Chiara Di Girolamo
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonella Bena
- Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service ASL TO3, Grugliasco, (TO), Italy
| | - Fulvio Ricceri
- Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
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2
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Vanheusden FJ, Vadapalli SK, Rashid M, Griffiths MD, Kim A. Religiosity, Financial Risk Taking, and Reward Processing: An Experimental Study. J Gambl Stud 2024:10.1007/s10899-024-10324-4. [PMID: 38861246 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10324-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The present study investigated the extent to which financial risk-taking (FRT) perspectives and religiosity influenced an individual's performance on financial decision-making tasks under risk and/or uncertainty. It further investigated the potential to measure this interaction using electro-encephalogram (EEG) assessments through reward-related event-related potentials (P3 and FRN). EEG data were collected from 37 participants undergoing four decision-making tasks comprising the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), Iowa Gambling Test (IGT), Mixed-Gamble Loss-Aversion Task (MGLAT), and MGLA-Success Task (MGLAST). The present study found that BART performance may be affected by an interaction of FRT perspectives and religiosity. The physiological effects of task feedback were also distinguished between religious and non-religious individuals objectively with EEG data. Overall, while religiosity and FRT may not significantly influence IGT and MGLA performance, and interact with BART in a complex way, physiological reaction towards feedback after BART performance appears to be strongly affected by religiosity and FRT perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederique J Vanheusden
- Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, New Hall Block, Room 177, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
| | - Sundara Kashyap Vadapalli
- Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, New Hall Block, Room 177, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Christ Church Business School, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
| | - Mark D Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amee Kim
- Christ Church Business School, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
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3
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Marionneau V, Kristiansen S, Wall H. Harmful types of gambling: changes and emerging trends in longitudinal helpline data. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:335-341. [PMID: 38389465 PMCID: PMC10990548 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gambling products differ in terms of their harm potential. Products are also constantly developing and changing. However, little research has addressed changes and trends in the types of gambling that are associated with harms. The current study explores trends in the gambling product categories identified as harmful in longitudinal helpline data from three Nordic countries. METHODS We use data collected by national helplines in Denmark (StopSpillet), Finland (Peluuri) and Sweden (Stödlinjen) in their daily operations (N = 46 646). The data consist of information collected on gamblers and concerned significant others who have contacted these helplines between January 2019 and December 2022. We analyse which gambling products are mentioned as harmful by clients. The analysis uses linear regression with the interaction term (country) times time regressed over the outcome variable (proportion per month). RESULTS The results show that an increased share of contacts concern online gambling. Online casino products have become the most harmful category across contexts. The share of reported harms from online betting and new emerging online forms is also increasing. The share of land-based products as a reported source of harms has decreased across 2019-22. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that online gamlbing environments, and particularly online casino products, are associated with increasing harms to help-seekers. The harmfulness of different gambling products may not be stable, but change over time. Further harm prevention efforts are needed to address the online gambling field, including emerging formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Marionneau
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Søren Kristiansen
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Håkan Wall
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Hing N, Russell AM, Rawat V, Bryden GM, Browne M, Rockloff M, Thorne HB, Newall P, Dowling NA, Merkouris SS, Stevens M. The COVID-19 lockdown experience suggests that restricting the supply of gambling can reduce gambling problems: An Australian prospective study. J Behav Addict 2024; 13:146-162. [PMID: 38345618 PMCID: PMC10988417 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aims COVID-19 lockdowns limited access to gambling but simultaneously elevated psychosocial stressors. This study assessed the relative effects of these changes on gambling risk status during and after the Australian COVID-19 lockdown from late-March to late-May 2020. Methods The study administered three surveys to people who had gambled within the past year at T1. Wave 1 asked about before (T1, N = 2,125) and during lockdown (T2, N = 2,125). Subsequent surveys focused on one year (T3; N = 649) and two years after lockdown (T4, N = 458). The dependent variable was changes in reporting any problem gambling symptoms (PGSI 0 vs 1+). Bivariate analyses and multinomial logistic regression tested for significant associations with: demographics, psychosocial stressors (perceived stress, psychological distress, loneliness, health anxiety about COVID, financial hardship, stressful life events), gambling participation and gambling frequency. Results Gambling participation and at-risk gambling decreased between T1 and T2, increased at T3, with little further change at T4. When gambling availability was curtailed, decreased gambling frequency on EGMs, casino games, sports betting or race betting, and lower psychosocial stress, were associated with transitions from at-risk to non-problem gambling. When gambling availability resumed, increased EGM gambling frequency, decreased online gambling frequency, and higher psychosocial stress were associated with transitions from non-problem to at-risk gambling. Discussion and conclusions Gambling availability appears a stronger influence on gambling problems, at the population level, than psychosocial risk factors. Reducing the supply of high-risk gambling products, particularly EGMs, is likely to reduce gambling harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerilee Hing
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Alex M.T. Russell
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Vijay Rawat
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 120 Spencer St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Gabrielle M. Bryden
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Matthew Browne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Matthew Rockloff
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Hannah B. Thorne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 44 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Philip Newall
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, 12a Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TU, United Kingdom
| | - Nicki A. Dowling
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Stephanie S. Merkouris
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, School of Psychology, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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Marionneau V, Selin J, Impinen A, Roukka T. Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment in land-based gambling: effects on online substitutes and total consumption in longitudinal sales data. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:809. [PMID: 38486180 PMCID: PMC10941527 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18325-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gambling causes important harms in societies. According to the public health approach, the most effective policies to reduce harms target full populations. Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment are among the most effective measures. However, restrictions on the availability of some gambling products or channels may also be offset by increased consumption in other products. Substitution effects can have negative public health impacts due to differing harm potential across different gambling products. This paper uses longitudinal sales data (2019-2022) from the Finnish gambling monopoly Veikkaus. During the observation period, the availability of gambling was restricted in Finland due to subsequent waves of Covid-19-related restrictions. In addition, the gambling monopoly introduced mandatory precommitment to land-based EGMs. We focus on how these restrictive policy changes impacted the total consumption of gambling and possible substitution effects. METHODS The Finnish gambling monopoly provided weekly theoretical loss data per gambling product category and gambling channel (online, land-based) for the period of January 2019 - July 2022 based on a statutory obligation. We analysed the effects of availability restrictions and other public health measures on the consumption of different products using descriptive time series and regression analyses. We compared the sale of land-based products to online equivalents at product category level and included main policy change periods in the models. RESULTS Total consumption of gambling declined during 2019-2022 mainly due to reduced land-based electronic gambling machine (EGM) consumption. Declines in land-based EGM sales were not offset by online alternatives or other close substitutes in the long term. However, during the first wave of Covid-19, there was an observable substitution of land-based table games by online alternatives and land-based horse betting and possibly sports betting by online horse betting. Overall, the results also show that Covid-19 functioned as a boost to an already existing trend of increasing digitalisation of gambling. CONCLUSIONS The study provides empirical support for the effectiveness of public health-oriented policies in reducing the total consumption of gambling. Availability restrictions and mandatory precommitment are therefore likely to also reduce the burden of harms of gambling to individuals and societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Marionneau
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 33, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, 00271, Finland.
| | - Jani Selin
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, 00271, Finland
| | - Antti Impinen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, 00271, Finland
| | - Tomi Roukka
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, 00271, Finland
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6
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Yockey RA. Psychosocial Factors Associated With Past Month Gambling Among Adolescents: Results From the 2016-2020 PRIDE Survey. Health Promot Pract 2024; 25:213-219. [PMID: 36367292 DOI: 10.1177/15248399221135101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The present study sought to identify psychosocial factors associated with recent gambling (gambling within the past 30 days). The 2016, 2018, and 2020 Parents' Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE) data sets were pooled and analyzed, consisting of 108,690 adolescents in 13 local public schools. A sizable percentage (13.1%) of adolescents reported gambling in the past 30 days. Multiple logistic regression analyses found differences based on demographic factors, previous substance use, and psychosocial factors. Adolescents at highest risk were male, non-White, in high school; sold drugs; and participated in violent activities in the past 30 days. The study also found worrying rates of substance use. Findings from the present study can inform harm reduction efforts, prevention messaging, and clinical interventions related to adolescent gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Andrew Yockey
- The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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7
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Stone CA, Yeung K, Shaw L, Billi R. Gambling in Victoria: Changes in Participation, Problem Gambling and Gambling Environment Between 2008 and 2018. J Gambl Stud 2024:10.1007/s10899-024-10282-x. [PMID: 38311695 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10282-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Gambling and its impacts are an important public health issue. The relationship between gambling, problem gambling and gambling harm is complex and dynamic. Replicate prevalence studies are useful for surveillance and monitoring gambling impacts within jurisdictions. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in gambling and problem gambling in the Victorian adult population between 2008 and 2018 by investigating individual gambling activities and exploring their relationship with the Victorian gambling ecosystem. Gambling participation has decreased; problem gambling prevalence has not. Investigation beyond these summary measures reveals important details: (a) Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs), casino table games, race and sports betting ('high-risk activities'), informal private betting, and Keno, and their associations with problem gambling endure. Further, the strength of this association is unaffected by changes in product technology, delivery, or the Victorian environment in which they reside, (b) participation in high-risk activities, excluding EGMs, increased while for other activities they decreased, (c) EGMs continue to pose the greatest risk for Victorians, (d) males and young adults continue having a higher problem gambling prevalence rate and preferring both online gambling and high-risk activities (excluding racing favoured by an ageing, older cohort, and Keno, by all ages), and (e) gambling access and exposure proliferated enabling single site multiple gambling opportunities on high-risk activities. Young adults represented a new vulnerable group as they reach the legal gambling age. The most effective interventions (based on major falls in real expenditure (losses) on EGMs, the highest risk activity) were the smoking bans, removal of ATMs from venues and decreases in bet size. There is great potential for prevention, intervention, and minimising harm in the gambling environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristal Yeung
- Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lindsay Shaw
- Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rosa Billi
- Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Imperato C, Giardina A, Manari T, Albano A, Franceschini C, Schimmenti A, Musetti A. Problematic Gaming during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:3176. [PMID: 38132066 PMCID: PMC10742917 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11243176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to government measures enforcing isolation in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. Consequently, online activities, including gaming, increased during this challenging period. Thus, it was possible that problematic gaming (PG) patterns also increased. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we estimated the prevalence of PG during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined differences among subpopulations. The evaluation of 38 studies revealed that the overall prevalence of PG during the COVID-19 pandemic was 3.6%. Furthermore, higher PG scores were found in undergraduate and gamer subpopulations, as well as in studies using the Gaming Addiction Scale. Finally, meta-regression analyses suggest that stricter government measures, as identified by the Government Stringency Index, may have contributed to a lower prevalence of PG behaviors. A potential explanation of this finding is that containment measures had a protective function with respect to emotional distress, and thus towards PG; alternatively, it could be that current measures for PG become less precise if an individual's functioning is already impaired due to other reasons, such as COVID-19 restrictions. Further theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Imperato
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy; (C.I.); (T.M.)
| | - Alessandro Giardina
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Tommaso Manari
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy; (C.I.); (T.M.)
| | - Antonio Albano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.A.); (C.F.)
| | - Christian Franceschini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.A.); (C.F.)
| | - Adriano Schimmenti
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Musetti
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy; (C.I.); (T.M.)
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9
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Horváth Z, Paksi B, Fernández-Aranda F, Jiménez-Murcia S, Demetrovics Z. The Predictive Role of Tolerance and Health Problems in Problem Gambling: A Cross-Sectional and Cross-Lagged Network Analyses. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:1781-1798. [PMID: 36738377 PMCID: PMC9898861 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The existing symptomatic networks of problem gambling are all based on cross-sectional data. Thus, there is a need to explore longitudinal symptom networks of problem gambling. Moreover, the replicability of cross-sectional symptom networks can be limited; therefore, further research should assess the convergence between cross-sectional networks of problem gambling symptoms. The present study aimed (i) to examine cross-sectional networks of problem gambling symptoms and evaluate their replicability and (ii) to examine a longitudinal cross-lagged network of problem gambling symptoms. The study included a representative sample of young adult gamblers (born between 1984 and 2000) from the first two waves of the Budapest Longitudinal Study (original sample: N = 2777; final sample: N = 335). The Problem Gambling Severity Index was used to assess symptoms of problem gambling. Cross-sectional symptom networks showed differences in the centrality of nodes. Correlations between the two cross-sectional networks were low in the presence vs. absence of edges, rank order of edge weights, and centrality estimates. However, network invariance tests indicated non-significant differences between them. The cross-lagged network revealed that the symptoms of tolerance and health problems could predict the subsequent presence of multiple problem gambling symptoms. Overall, limited evidence demonstrated the replicability of cross-sectional symptom networks of problem gambling. Future research needs to explore the utility of cross-sectional networks of problem gambling and assess more precisely causal relationships between problem gambling symptoms by distinguishing within- and between-subject effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Horváth
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella Utca 46, Budapest, 1064, Hungary.
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar.
| | - Borbála Paksi
- Institute of Education, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III., Madrid, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Programme, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III., Madrid, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group, Neurosciences Programme, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella Utca 46, Budapest, 1064, Hungary
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
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10
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Snippe L, Boffo M, Galvin H, Willemen R, Pronk T, Dom G, Wiers RW. How We Lost 90% of Participants on a Bad Bet: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial on Cognitive Bias Modification in Problem Gamblers. J Gambl Stud 2023:10.1007/s10899-023-10263-6. [PMID: 38006537 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10263-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Whilst opportunities to participate in gambling have increased, access to support for problem gamblers is lacking behind. This lack of balance calls for improved and accessible intervention methods. The present double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) explored the effectiveness of two interventions targeting automatic cognitive processes, known as Attentional Bias Modification (AtBM) and Approach Bias Modification (ApBM). It was hypothesized these interventions would reduce gambling behavior and reduce or reverse targeted biases. Participants (N = 331) were community-recruited Flemish (35%) and Dutch (65%) adult problem gamblers motivated to reduce or stop their gambling who received either six sessions of active training (AtBM or ApBM) or of the corresponding sham-training (sham-AtBM or sham-ApBM). Due to high attrition rates (90.1% up to the intervention phase) the study was terminated before completion, since it would greatly limit the validity of any results. A post hoc qualitative study was performed on a subset of participants to gain insight into contributing factors for the high attrition rate. Issues negatively impacting participants' motivation to complete the program were identified, as well as elements of the program that received approval. The results from this study provide a first insight into the potential of the use of online cognitive bias modification (CBM) interventions in problem gambling (PG). Suggestions and directions for future studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leroy Snippe
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp (UAntwerp), Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Marilisa Boffo
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies (DPECS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harriet Galvin
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies (DPECS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thomas Pronk
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Dom
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp (UAntwerp), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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Ghelfi M, Scattola P, Giudici G, Velasco V. Online Gambling: A Systematic Review of Risk and Protective Factors in the Adult Population. J Gambl Stud 2023:10.1007/s10899-023-10258-3. [PMID: 37964161 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10258-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, internet gambling has seen strong growth and diffusion due to intrinsic characteristics that make it particularly attractive to players (accessibility, anonymity, variety of games). This paper aims to present the current state of knowledge of the risk and protective factors of online gambling. A literature search conducted in the PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus databases found 42 articles, which were included in the review. Methodological aspects and risk and protective factors were analysed cross-sectionally. The results concerning risk and protective factors were distinguished by the level of analysis: individual, relational, and contextual. Two types of comparisons were considered: online vs. offline gamblers and online nonproblematic vs. problematic gamblers. The results of the two comparisons were juxtaposed to analyse their consistency and the different associations with factors. In general, the review showed that risk factors and variables at the individual level are investigated to a greater extent, while protective factors at the relational and contextual level need more in-depth study in future research. More specifically, this review found that even if online and offline gamblers shared most risk and protective factors, there are variables that they would not have in common. These factors could be important to consider in preventive interventions aimed at online gamblers and online problematic gamblers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Ghelfi
- Psychology Department, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
| | - Paola Scattola
- Società Cooperativa Sociale Piccolo Principe, 24061, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Gilberto Giudici
- Società Cooperativa Sociale Piccolo Principe, 24061, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Veronica Velasco
- Psychology Department, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
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12
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Wall H, Kristiansen S, Molander O, Forsström D, Marionneau V. Gambling helpline contacts during COVID-19-related availability restrictions: an interrupted time series analysis. Public Health 2023; 224:14-19. [PMID: 37696197 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gambling causes significant public health harms that are addressed in the help service network. Helplines are the most widely used service among those experiencing harms. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the global gambling landscape. This study assesses the effect of COVID-19-related restrictions on help-seeking for gambling via helplines. STUDY DESIGN We analysed data of national helplines in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark before and during the pandemic. The countries differed in their restrictions on the availability and accessibility of gambling during the pandemic. METHODS We performed an interrupted time series analysis of contact and web traffic data to helplines in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2021). We also compared forecasted time series to the actual data to assess change. RESULTS The results show diverging patterns across the three countries. In Sweden, the number of helpline contacts remained stable throughout COVID-19, but there was an increasing trend in website visits. In Finland, the number of contacts declined during the first wave but rebounded during the second wave. Website visitation increased moderately. In Denmark, the number of contacts to the helpline soared over the COVID-19 period. CONCLUSIONS The diverging results suggest that help-seeking behaviour is likely to be impacted by differing policy approaches to gambling availability and limit-setting, visibility of helplines, and the prevalence of different forms of gambling in the three Nordic countries before and during the pandemic. This has implications for a preventive public health approach for gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Wall
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Norra Stationsgatan 69, Stockholm 11364, Sweden.
| | - S Kristiansen
- Aalborg University, Department of Sociology and Social Work, Denmark
| | - O Molander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Norra Stationsgatan 69, Stockholm 11364, Sweden
| | - D Forsström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Norra Stationsgatan 69, Stockholm 11364, Sweden
| | - V Marionneau
- University of Helsinki, Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance, Finland
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Pagano A, Le T, Fong T, Reid R, Delucchi K, Guydish J. Gambling, tobacco use, and health among individuals in substance use disorder treatment. Am J Addict 2023; 32:563-573. [PMID: 37543853 DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gambling is highly comorbid with disordered use of tobacco and other drugs, and may increase relapse risk among substance use disorder (SUD) patients. We investigated associations between gambling and tobacco use behaviors among SUD patients to inform clinical care. METHODS Patients (N = 651, 170 female) from 25 residential SUD treatment programs in California completed surveys about tobacco use, health, and gambling. Using multivariate regression, we examined associations between gambling, tobacco use behaviors, and mental and physical health. RESULTS Past-year gamblers were more likely than non-gamblers to be current smokers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 2.01). Smokers who gambled had higher mean Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) scores (mean difference = +0.32, 95% CI = 0.04, 0.60), and more often reported smokeless tobacco use (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.58), compared to non-gambling smokers. Past-year problem gamblers were more likely than all others (non-gamblers and non-problem gamblers) to be current smokers (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.90) and to report high psychosocial stress (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.34, 2.61). Smokers with problem gambling also had higher HSI scores (mean difference = +0.54, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.95) compared to smokers without problem gambling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Gambling and problem gambling were associated with tobacco use and heavier smoking. SUD patients with gambling comorbidity may be heavier smokers and may need concurrent treatment for tobacco use and problem gambling. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE This study provides novel data regarding gambling and tobacco use behaviors among SUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pagano
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Thao Le
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Timothy Fong
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rory Reid
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin Delucchi
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph Guydish
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Horváth Z, Paksi B, Eisinger A, Felvinczi K, Demetrovics O, Demetrovics Z. Longitudinal joint trajectories of gambling disorder and hypomentalization: A latent class growth analysis among young adults. Compr Psychiatry 2023; 126:152409. [PMID: 37566950 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Only a few studies have investigated the relationship between risk for gambling disorder (GD) and mentalization difficulties. However, these results on positive correlations were all from cross-sectional studies; therefore, it would be important to investigate the longitudinal relationship between the constructs. AIMS It was aimed to identify subgroups of gamblers with different joint growth trajectories of risk for GD and hypomentalization (i.e., uncertainty of understanding own and others' mental states) and to compare the identified latent classes along impulsivity, sensation seeking and depression. METHODS Data from waves 1-3 of the Budapest Longitudinal Study were used. The final sample included 219 young adult gamblers who completed the study questionnaire and reported past-year gambling in all three waves (Females: N = 93 [42.29%]; Mean age: 28.36 years [SD = 4.29]). Standardized questionnaires were administered to measure the main constructs. RESULTS A four-class model was retained based on latent class growth analysis. Class 1 had consistently moderately high risk for GD and hypomentalization, and Class 4 presented consistently low risk for GD and hypomentalization. Classes 2-3 were characterized by low risk for GD and increasing hypomentalization. Class 1 had significantly higher sensation seeking and depression compared with the other subgroups in multiple cases. Class 4 showed significantly lower impulsivity and sensation seeking than the other classes. CONCLUSIONS Elevated hypomentalization was presented among individuals with risk for GD. However, there is little empirical evidence to support that the two constructs have convergently changing trajectories. A cautious interpretation of the results is recommended due to low symptom presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Horváth
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar.
| | - Borbála Paksi
- Institute of Education, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Eisinger
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Felvinczi
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
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Azevedo NP, Santos P, Sá L. Gambling Disorder among Porto's University Students. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2527. [PMID: 37761724 PMCID: PMC10530893 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11182527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gambling disorder is an emerging problem among young adults and must be researched to provide the necessary support. This study aims to characterise gambling disorders in Porto's university students. METHODS A cross-sectional study distributed an online questionnaire to Porto's university students. The authors developed a self-administered questionnaire that included the South Oaks Gambling Screen questionnaire-Portuguese Version (SOGS-PV). RESULTS A total of 1123 responses were included. The participants' average age was 22.4 years (SD = 6.2), and 60.9% were women. Gambling activities were performed by 66.4% of the students, most commonly online or video games, "scratch card" games, skill games, lotteries, and sports bets. The final scores of the SOGS-PV suggested 19.7% (95% CI: 17.4-22.0) of students may have a gambling disorder, with 16.6% (95% CI: 14.4-18.8) being "probable pathological gamblers" and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.1-4.1) being "problem gamblers". Gambling in the stocks/commodities market/virtual coins, sports bets, playing cards for money, and the numbers or betting on lotteries presents a higher risk of gambling disorder. The age (OR: 0.953; 95% CI: 0.922-0.986), being male (OR: 2.756; 95% CI: 1.899-4.000), the highest daily gambling amount (OR: 3.938; 95% CI: 2.580-6.012), the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (OR: 0.129; 95% CI: 0.087-0.191), a mother with gambling disorder (OR: 5.284; 95% CI: 1.038-26.902), the personal services education area (OR: 2.858; 95% CI: 1.179-6.929), and the linguistics education area (OR: 2.984; 95% CI: 1.538-5.788) stand out as contributing factors to the development of this disorder. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals a high level of possible gambling disorder among university students and emphasises the importance of this problem in the academic community. Physician awareness and prevention programmes are needed in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia Pais Azevedo
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Paulo Santos
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Sá
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- Nova Via Health Unit, ACesS Espinho-Gaia, 4405-535 Valadares, Portugal
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16
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Critchlow N, Hunt K, Wardle H, Stead M. Expenditure on Paid-for Gambling Advertising During the National COVID-19 'Lockdowns': An Observational Study of Media Monitoring Data from the United Kingdom. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:1451-1465. [PMID: 36031649 PMCID: PMC9420675 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-022-10153-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Changes in gambling advertising during national COVID-19 'lockdowns', when stay-at-home rules restricted participation in certain gambling activities, provides important context to variance in gambling behaviour during these periods. This study describes expenditure on paid-for gambling advertising during three national lockdowns, compares expenditure to pre-pandemic estimates, and compares changes in expenditure by subsector. Data come from an observational study of weekly expenditure on paid-for gambling advertising in the United Kingdom (n = 135 weeks; beginning 2019 to mid-2021), focusing on three COVID-19 lockdowns: (1) March-May 2020; (2) November-December 2020; and (3) January-March 2021. We descriptively analysed how total advertising expenditure in each lockdown (£GBP, inflation-adjusted) compared to the same time points in 2019, both overall and by subsector (bookmakers, lotteries, online bingo, online casino and poker, gaming, pools, mobile content). Gambling advertising expenditure during lockdown one was 38.5% lower than 2019 (£43.5 million[m] vs. £70.7 m, respectively), with decreases across all subsectors (range: -81.7% [bookmakers] to -2.8% [online bingo]). Total advertising expenditure in lockdown two was 49.3% higher than 2019 (£51.7 m vs. £34.6 m), with increases for 5/7 subsectors (range: -31.6% [mobile content] to + 103.8% [bookmakers]). In lockdown three, advertising expenditure was 5.9% higher than 2019 (£91.2 m vs. £86.1 m), with increases for 4/7 subsectors (range: -92.4% [pools] to + 49.2% [mobile content]). Reductions in advertising expenditure in lockdown one are congruent with self-reported reductions in overall gambling also observed during this period. Further research is needed to determine whether increased advertising expenditure in lockdowns two and three correlates with increased gambling, overall and for specific subsectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Critchlow
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Stirling, Scotland.
| | - Kate Hunt
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Martine Stead
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Stirling, Scotland
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17
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Sirola A, Nyrhinen J, Wilska TA. Psychosocial Perspective on Problem Gambling: The role of Social Relationships, Resilience, and COVID-19 Worry. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:1467-1485. [PMID: 36622471 PMCID: PMC9827443 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-022-10185-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified several psychosocial risks and problem behaviors among vulnerable individuals. Given that gambling has high addictive potential, it is important to consider the underlying mechanisms of problem gambling. This study examined psychosocial factors associated with pandemic-time problem gambling.Cross-sectional data were gathered via an online survey of 18-75-year-old Finnish, Swedish, and British respondents (n = 2,022) who reported having gambled at least occasionally during the pandemic. Measures included problem gambling, loneliness, COVID-19 worry, social support, and psychological resilience. Control variables included gender, age, and education. Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical technique.Loneliness was found to be associated with problem gambling. While COVID-19 worry was not directly associated with problem gambling, it predicted higher loneliness, which in turn was associated with problem gambling. Evidence was not found regarding the protective role of resilience or social support in problem gambling. However, social support was found to be associated with higher problem gambling severity. Male gender and younger age were associated with problem gambling.The results bring insight into underlying vulnerabilities regarding problem gambling during the pandemic. More focus should be placed on the quality and sources of social support, as well as on how psychosocial risk and protective factors might work differently among different populations of gamblers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Sirola
- Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Jussi Nyrhinen
- Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Terhi-Anna Wilska
- Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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18
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Kovačić Petrović Z, Peraica T, Blažev M, Kozarić-Kovačić D. Association between problematic Internet use and specific Internet activities and COVID-19- and earthquake-related stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among Croatian young adults. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1227182. [PMID: 37645636 PMCID: PMC10461808 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1227182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant earthquakes in Croatia in 2020, increased Internet use (IU) and Internet-based addictive behaviors were associated with decreasing mental well-being. We determined the changes in IU, problematic IU (PIU), and problematic specific Internet activities in young adults during the prolonged stress caused by the pandemic and earthquakes, age differences in PIU and differences in perceived source of stress (pandemic or earthquakes), and association between PIU and increase in specific Internet activities and stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in young adults. Methods A cross-sectional online survey conducted from September 30, 2021 to October 17, 2021 included 353 young adults aged 22.6 ± 2.1 years, 382 early adults aged 32.1 ± 4.4 years, and 371 middle-aged adults aged 49.0 ± 6.5 years. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, stressors (without perceived stressors, only pandemic-related stressor, only earthquake-related stressor, and both pandemic and earthquake-related stressors), PIU and IU were collected with a self-report questionnaire. The Impact of Event Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale were used to evaluate mental symptoms. PIU and problematic specific Internet activities were assessed using Tao et al.'s criteria. Data were anaylzed with paired-sample Wilcoxon test, McNemar's and Pearson's chi-square tests, and structural equation modeling. Results In 17% of young adults, we found increased PIU (OR = 5.15, 95% CI [2.82, 10.18]), problematic social media use (OR = 2.77, 95% CI [1.56, 5.14]), and uncontrolled online shopping (OR = 5.75, 95% CI [1.97, 22.87]) (p < 0.001 for all). PIU and problematic social media use were more common among young adults (60.8%), as well as problematic online gaming (25.9%). Problematic social media use was more frequent among young adults reporting pandemic stress than among those without perceived stress (69.9% vs. 43.2%). Increased online gaming predicted more severe avoidance symptoms (p = 0.041), increased social media use predicted more severe depression symptoms (p = 0.017), increased online shopping predicted more severe intrusion (p = 0.013) and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.001). PIU predicted more severe intrusion (p = 0.008), avoidance (p = 0.01), anxiety (p < 0.001), and depression (p = 0.012) symptoms. Conclusion Different effects of the pandemic and earthquakes on IU could reflect a different effect of various stressors on Internet behavior of young adults. Type of problematic Internet behavior may predict for the type of mental health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zrnka Kovačić Petrović
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Addiction, University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tina Peraica
- Department of Psychiatry, Referral Center for Stress-related Disorders of the Ministry of Health, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Mirta Blažev
- Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
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Hagen AEF, Nogueira-Arjona R, Sherry SB, Rodriguez LM, Yakovenko I, Stewart SH. What explains the link between romantic conflict with gambling problems? Testing a serial mediational model. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1018098. [PMID: 37502746 PMCID: PMC10370473 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1018098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While individuals have many motives to gamble, one particularly risky motive for gambling is to cope with negative affect. Conflict with one's romantic partner is a strong predictor of negative affect, which may elicit coping motives for gambling and, in turn, gambling-related problems. Support for this mediational model was demonstrated in relation to drinking-related problems. We extended this model to gambling. Method Using a cross-sectional design, we examined links between romantic conflict (Partner-Specific Rejecting Behaviors Scale), negative affect (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21), coping gambling motives (Gambling Motives Questionnaire, coping subscale), and gambling-related problems [Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)] in 206 regular gamblers (64% men; mean age = 44.7 years; mean PGSI = 8.7) who were in a romantic relationship and recruited through Qualtrics Panels in July 2021. Results Results supported our hypothesis that the association between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems would be sequentially mediated through negative affect and coping gambling motives, β = 0.38, 95% CI [0.27, 0.39], and also showed a strong single mediation pathway through negative affect alone, β = 0.27, 95% CI [0.17, 0.38]. Discussion Negative affect and coping gambling motives partially explain the link between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems. Interventions should target both negative affect and coping gambling motives in response to romantic conflict to reduce gambling-related problems in partnered gamblers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. F. Hagen
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Simon B. Sherry
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Lindsey M. Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Igor Yakovenko
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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20
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Galvin HR, Boffo M, Snippe L, Collins P, Pronk T, Salemink E, Wiers RW, Stewart SH. Losing sight of Luck: Automatic approach tendencies toward gambling cues in Canadian moderate- to high-risk gamblers - A replication study. Addict Behav 2023; 145:107778. [PMID: 37364524 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Evidence for approach bias tendencies to underly automatic behavioural impulses towards seeking out gambling activities in the presence of appetitive salient cues was first shown by Boffo et al. (2018) in a Dutch sample. Relative to non-problem gamblers, moderate-to-high-risk gamblers demonstrated stronger approach tendencies towards gambling-related stimuli compared with neutral ones. Moreover, gambling approach bias was associated with past-month gambling behaviour and predictive of gambling activity persistence over time. The current study aimed to replicate these findings within a Canadian sample evaluating the concurrent and longitudinal correlates of gambling approach bias. The study was conducted online, available throughout Canada. Twenty-seven non-treatment-seeking moderate-to-high-risk gamblers and 26 non-problem gamblers community-recruited via multiple channels (i.e., internet and newspaper advertisements, land-based flyers, and university recruitment portals). Participants completed two online assessment sessions 6-months apart. Each session included (1) self-report measures of gambling behaviour (frequency, duration, and expenditure), (2) self-report assessment of problem gambling severity (PGSI), and (3) a gambling approach-avoidance task, utilising culturally relevant stimuli tailored to individual gambling habits. However, our study failed to replicate Boffo et al. (2018) findings in a Canadian sample. Relative to non-problem gamblers, moderate-to-high-risk gamblers did not exhibit greater approach bias tendencies towards gambling-related stimuli compared to neutral stimuli. Moreover, gambling approach bias was not predictive of prospective gambling behaviour (frequency, duration, or expenditure) or severity of gambling problems. Reported results do not provide evidence for approach tendencies contributing to problematic gambling behaviour in a Canadian sample of moderate-to-high-risk gamblers compared to non-problematic gambler controls. Further replications on the topic are needed. Future research should evaluate approach tendencies within the gambling context, considering the potential impact of task reliability to assess approach bias in light of individual gambling modality preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriet R Galvin
- Department of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Marilisa Boffo
- Department of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Leroy Snippe
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology and Center for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pam Collins
- Psychology & Neuroscience Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Thomas Pronk
- Behavioural Science Lab, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elske Salemink
- Experimental Psychopathology Lab, Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT)-lab, Department of Psychology and Center for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sherry H Stewart
- Psychology & Neuroscience Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
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Egerer M, Marionneau V. Blocking measures against offshore online gambling: a scoping review. INTERNATIONAL GAMBLING STUDIES 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/14459795.2023.2190372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Egerer
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Science, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virve Marionneau
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Science, University of Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Risk Factors for Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:483-511. [PMID: 36884150 PMCID: PMC9994414 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10195-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Gambling disorder is a common and problematic behavioral disorder associated with depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, bankruptcy, and high suicide rates. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), pathological gambling was renamed "gambling disorder" and moved to the Substance-Related and Addiction Disorders chapter to acknowledge that research suggests that pathological gambling and alcohol and drug addiction are related. Therefore, this paper provides a systematic review of risk factors for gambling disorder. Systematic searches of EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified 33 records that met study inclusion criteria. A revised study acknowledges as risk factors for developing/maintaining a gambling disorder being a single young male, or married for less than 5 years, living alone, having a poor education, and struggling financially.
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23
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Brodeur M, Roberge P, Cotton JC, Monson E, Morvannou A, Poitras ME, Lacasse A, Jutras-Aswad D, Couturier Y, Loignon C, Audette-Chapdelaine S, Auger AM, Bertrand K, Dorceus S, Simon O, Hudon C. Experience of LGBTQIA2S+ populations with gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066231. [PMID: 36754562 PMCID: PMC9922879 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research undertaken since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has provided us information about the impact of the pandemic on the gambling habits of the general population. However, very little is known about certain subgroups at increased risk of developing gambling disorder, such as the LGBTQIA2S+ population. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling behaviours among LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. In addition, we want to understand the experiences of the LGBTQIA2S+ population with gambling disorder and identify interventions that LGBTQIA2S+ people have found to be effective in addressing problem gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This study has a sequential explanatory mixed-method design in two phases over 2 years. The first phase is a correlational study. We will conduct a cross-sectional survey using a stratified random sampling among Canadian residents who are 18 years of age or older, self-identify as sexually and gender-diverse (ie, LGBTQIA2S+) and have gambled at least once in the previous 12 months. This survey will be administered online via a web panel (n=1500). The second phase is a qualitative study. Semistructured interviews will be conducted with LGBTQIA2S+ people with problematic gambling (n=30). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This research project has been ethically and scientifically approved by the Research Ethics Committee and by the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS scientific evaluation committee on 3 March 2022 (reference number: 2022-4633-LGBTQ-JHA). Electronic and/or written informed consent, depending on the data collection format (online survey and online or in-person interviews), will be obtained from each participant. A copy of the consent form and contact information will be delivered to each participant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magaly Brodeur
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pasquale Roberge
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julie-Christine Cotton
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eva Monson
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adele Morvannou
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Poitras
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anaïs Lacasse
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada
| | - Didier Jutras-Aswad
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yves Couturier
- School of Social Work, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christine Loignon
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sophie Audette-Chapdelaine
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Auger
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Karine Bertrand
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sabruna Dorceus
- Department of Career Counseling, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olivier Simon
- Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Hudon
- Department of Family Medecine and Emergency Medecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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24
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Hopfgartner N, Auer M, Santos T, Helic D, Griffiths MD. Cooling Off and the Effects of Mandatory Breaks in Online Gambling: A Large-Scale Real-World Study. Int J Ment Health Addict 2023:1-18. [PMID: 36688113 PMCID: PMC9844935 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevention of problematic online gambling behavior is a topic of major interest for regulators, the gambling industry, and researchers. Many gambling operators approach this issue by using responsible gambling tools. Among such tools, mandatory play breaks are used to interrupt long online gambling sessions, providing "cooling off" periods for players to take a reflective "time out". The present study investigated the effects of mandatory play breaks in a large-scale experiment with 23,234 online gamblers engaging in more than 870,000,000 gambling transactions on Norsk Tipping's gambling platform over a 1-month period. The gamblers were randomly assigned to several intervention groups with varying duration of mandatory play breaks and one control group with Norsk Tipping's standard play break duration. More specifically, the study analyzed the relationship between the mandatory break received and the gambler's acceptance of this tool, the interaction patterns with the tool, and how quickly they started to gamble again, as well as post-intervention effects on gambling behavior. Results showed that gamblers who were treated with longer mandatory breaks (i) tended to take longer voluntary breaks, and (ii) interacted more frequently with the tool (for instance, by clicking the "logout" button). Furthermore, gamblers appeared to accept longer mandatory play breaks. However, only a fraction of post-intervention effects remained, and mainly only for gamblers who received a substantial number of long mandatory play breaks. Overall, the present study provides actionable insights for both researchers and the gambling industry to improve the effectiveness of mandatory play breaks as a responsible gambling tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Hopfgartner
- Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz University of Technology, Sandgasse 36/III, 8010 Graz, Austria
- neccton GmbH, Davidgasse 5, 7052 Müllendorf, Austria
| | - Michael Auer
- neccton GmbH, Davidgasse 5, 7052 Müllendorf, Austria
| | - Tiago Santos
- Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz University of Technology, Sandgasse 36/III, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Denis Helic
- Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science, Graz University of Technology, Sandgasse 36/III, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Mark D. Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ UK
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25
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Forsström D, Lindner P, Hayer T. Editorial: Gambling during COVID-19: Changes, risks, challenges and opportunities in the wake of COVID-19. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1110963. [PMID: 36687931 PMCID: PMC9846797 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1110963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David Forsström
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Stockholm, Sweden,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Health Care Services, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden,*Correspondence: David Forsström ✉
| | - Philip Lindner
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Health Care Services, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Hayer
- Department for Health and Society, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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26
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DeCamp W, Daly K. Loot box consumption by adolescents pre- and post- pandemic lockdown. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15287. [PMID: 37151299 PMCID: PMC10158757 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Loot boxes are virtual items that can be redeemed to receive randomly selected other virtual items, and have been criticized for being similar to gambling. The presence of loot boxes in video games has dramatically increased since 2010, with little evidence available for the current prevalence rate of loot box purchasing in the general population, particularly during and following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This study uses data from representative samples of American youth to estimate prevalence rates for video game play and loot box consumption before the pandemic (2019) and after the pandemic lockdowns (2022) to examine whether the pandemic has affected loot box usage in the general population and among gamers. The results suggest that youth loot box consumption has increased, rising from 24.9% in 2019 to 31.6% in 2022 among 8th grade (age 13-14) youth. The increase over this time period was larger for girls, though boys are still more likely to purchase loot boxes overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney DeCamp
- Department of Sociology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America
| | - Kevin Daly
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Malden, MA, United States of America
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27
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A large-scale prospective study of big wins and their relationship with future involvement and risk among actual online sports bettors. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2023.107657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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28
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Wolfschlag M, Håkansson A. Drug-Induced Gambling Disorder: Epidemiology, Neurobiology, and Management. Pharmaceut Med 2023; 37:37-52. [PMID: 36611111 PMCID: PMC9825131 DOI: 10.1007/s40290-022-00453-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Problematic gambling has been suggested to be a possible consequence of dopaminergic medications used mainly in neurological conditions, i.e. pramipexole and ropinirole, and possibly by one antipsychotic compound, aripiprazole. Patients with Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome and other conditions potentially treated with dopamine agonists, as well as patients treated for psychotic disorders, are vulnerable patient groups with theoretically increased risk of developing gambling disorder (GD), for example due to higher rates of mental ill-health in these groups. The aim of the present paper is to review the epidemiological, clinical, and neurobiological evidence of the association between dopaminergic medications and GD, and to describe risk groups and treatment options. The neurobiology of GD involves the reward and reinforcement system, based mainly on mesocorticolimbic dopamine projections, with the nucleus accumbens being a crucial area for developing addictions to substances and behaviors. The addictive properties of gambling can perhaps be explained by the reward uncertainty that activates dopamine signaling in a pathological manner. Since reward-related learning is mediated by dopamine, it can be altered by dopaminergic medications, possibly leading to increased gambling behavior and a decreased impulse control. A causal relationship between the medications and GD seems likely, but the molecular mechanisms behind this association have not been fully described yet. More research is needed in order to fully outline the clinical picture of GD developing in patient groups with dopaminergic medications, and data are needed on the differentiation of risk in different compounds. In addition, very few interventional studies are available on the management of GD induced by dopaminergic medications. While GD overall can be treated, there is need for treatment studies testing the effectiveness of tapering of the medication or other gambling-specific treatment modalities in these patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Wolfschlag
- Malmö-Trelleborg Addiction Center, Competence Center Addiction, Region Skåne, Södra Förstadsgatan 35, plan 4, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden ,Faculty of Medicine, Dept of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Psychiatry, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Malmö-Trelleborg Addiction Center, Competence Center Addiction, Region Skåne, Södra Förstadsgatan 35, plan 4, S-205 02, Malmö, Sweden. .,Faculty of Medicine, Dept of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Psychiatry, Lund, Sweden.
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29
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Egorov AY. [Behavioral (non-chemical) addictions and COVID-19]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2023; 123:41-46. [PMID: 36719118 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202312301141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence, manifestation, as well as the possibility of preventing and treating behavioral (non-chemical) addictions. Particular attention is paid to various manifestations of Internet addiction (IA): gaming, gambling, cybersexual and food addiction (FA). During the pandemic, Internet use increased significantly, leading to an increase in IA, mainly due to gaming, which correlated with the level of psychosocial problems. The increase in gambling occurred mainly in individuals with addiction or risk groups, while in the population the frequency of gambling decreased or did not change. Immediately after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of requests to porn sites increased dramatically, suggesting an increase in cybersex addiction. However, longitudinal studies in adolescents show a slight decrease in the interest in pornography in boys, and an increase from an initially low level in girls. The proportion of eating disorders and FA significantly increased. An increase in FA was associated with depression, anxiety, and also in obese individuals. In the era of COVID-19 prevention practices and general remedial activity should take into account the needs of the general population, emphasizing the importance of self-regulating and balanced lifestyles with moderate and sensible Internet use during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Y Egorov
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Mechnikov North-West State Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia.,Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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30
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Worsened Anxiety and Loneliness Influenced Gaming and Gambling during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2022; 12:jcm12010249. [PMID: 36615049 PMCID: PMC9820879 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12010249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To study the prevalence and patterns of problematic gaming and gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association with psychiatric traits and major types of anxiety categories. Method: 1067 young adults participated in both wave 3 (2018) and wave 4 (2021) of the SALVe Cohort. Associations with psychiatric symptoms and anxiety were examined using logistic regression and Chi-square tests. Results: Problematic gaming decreased by 1.3 percentage points to 23.2% since the start of the pandemic, while problematic gambling increased by 0.9 percentage points to 6.5% in w4. Average time spent playing video games/day decreased from 2.2 h (w3) to 1.7 h (w4), while increases in gaming activity were associated with worsened feelings of loneliness (p = 0.002), depression (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.01) during the pandemic. Predictors for problematic gaming at w4 were previous problematic gaming and social anxiety (p = < 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Moreover, previous problem gambling also predicted problem gambling at w4 p < 0.001. All anxiety categories were associated with both problematic gaming and gambling when adjusted for age and sex. However, after adjusting for depression and insomnia, social anxiety was associated with problematic gaming (p < 0.001), while panic was associated with problem gambling (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, problematic gaming has decreased since the start of the pandemic, while problem gambling has increased. Worsened feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic are associated with increased gaming. Moreover, the association between problematic gaming and gambling and anxiety is independent of depression and sleep problems.
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31
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Forsström D, Lindner P, Månsson KNT, Ojala O, Hedman-Lagerlöf M, El Alaoui S, Rozental A, Lundin J, Jangard S, Shahnavaz S, Sörman K, Lundgren T, Jayaram-Lindström N. Isolation and worry in relation to gambling and onset of gambling among psychiatry patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediation study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1045709. [PMID: 36619111 PMCID: PMC9813864 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1045709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
When the COVID-19 pandemic started spreading globally, there was a fear that addictive behaviors would increase due to changes in everyday life caused by restrictions due to COVID-19. Studies were carried out to explore if this was true for gambling, typically revealing no overall increase in gambling behavior, although individuals who had previous experience with gambling problems were more likely to increase gambling during the pandemic. However, these studies only included individuals with previous gambling problems. It remains unknown whether other vulnerable groups, such as individuals with common mental disorders increased their gambling. This study aimed to explore the level of gambling problems among individuals with a history of mental disorders, namely, (i) pre-pandemic gamblers and (ii) pandemic-onset gamblers. Furthermore, we explored if worry and isolation mediate gambling and problem gambling. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a structural equation model to investigate mediation. The results showed a high prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling in both groups. The pre-pandemic gamblers had a high level of at-risk and problem gambling. Furthermore, the individuals that started to gamble during the pandemic had an even higher degree of at-risk and problem gambling. The mediation showed that the onset of gambling was linked with the worry of COVID-infection and that worry predicted the level of gambling problems. This study highlights that vulnerability factors, isolation, and worry can be triggers for individuals with common mental disorders to engage in gambling as well as the importance of screening this population for gambling problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Forsström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip Lindner
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Olivia Ojala
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Hedman-Lagerlöf
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Samir El Alaoui
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexander Rozental
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simon Jangard
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shervin Shahnavaz
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Sörman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Lundgren
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nitya Jayaram-Lindström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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Renard M, Audette-Chapdelaine S, Savard AC, Kairouz S, Brodeur M. Gamblers' Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Their Gambling Behaviours: Analysis of Free-Text Responses Collected through a Cross-Sectional Online Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16603. [PMID: 36554483 PMCID: PMC9778834 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought drastic changes to the lives of a substantial portion of the world's population. Many stakeholders have expressed concern about the impact of the pandemic on gambling practices, which have historically increased during times of crisis. The purpose of this study was to provide a snapshot of the impact of the pandemic on gambling practices, focusing on the lived experiences of people who gamble. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between 16 February and 15 March 2021. An open-ended question allowed the participants to describe in their own words the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their gambling practices. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on 724 responses to this question. Among the participants, 57% were problem gamblers, according to their Problem Gambling Severity Index score. Three themes were identified: (1) changes in gambling practices perceived by the respondents during the pandemic, (2) the impacts of these changes, and (3) the factors that influenced the changes in their gambling practices. A meaningful proportion of the sample of gamblers felt that their gambling practices had increased during the pandemic. Many of them did not report the deleterious effects of this increase, whereas others were devastated. Thus, variations in gambling practices during the pandemic must be interpreted with caution, as they may reflect a variety of realities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Renard
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3P2, Canada
| | - Sophie Audette-Chapdelaine
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Annie-Claude Savard
- School of Social Work and Criminology, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Sylvia Kairouz
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Magaly Brodeur
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
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33
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Quinn A, Grant JE, Chamberlain SR. COVID-19 and resultant restrictions on gambling behaviour. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104932. [PMID: 36341942 PMCID: PMC9617674 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Since the onset of COVID-19, studies suggest a significant increase in online gambling, potentially facilitated by increased time at home, social isolation and boredom. This study aimed to address what is known about the impact of the pandemic on gambling behaviour by conducting a mapping review. A systematic literature search was conducted using four online databases. Additional studies were identified using reference lists. Relevant studies were quality scored and their findings synthesised in terms of overall changes at the population level and potentially vulnerable groups. The weight of evidence from 35 relevant reports across 12 countries indicated reductions of gambling during the pandemic at the level of the general population. However, marked increases in gambling amongst vulnerable sub-populations including amongst young adults and people with pre-existing at-risk gambling were also noted. The impact of COVID-19 on gambling is highly contingent on context. If policy makers examine only population level data, this could overlook profound negative effects identified in those with at-risk gambling, gambling disorder, and amongst young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Quinn
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK,Correspondence to: Academic Centre, College Keep, 4-12 Terminus Terrace, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3DT, UK
| | - Jon E. Grant
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, USA
| | - Samuel R. Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK,Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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34
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Otis E, Kim AJ, Stewart SH, Sherry SB, Yakovenko I. Changes in sports gambling behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1018234. [PMID: 36440391 PMCID: PMC9682192 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1018234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Canada; recent prevalence estimates indicate that 7.9% of Canadian adults endorsed gambling on sports in the past year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to the temporary closure of most major sports leagues worldwide beginning in March of 2020. These sudden closures created a dramatic decrease in the availability of sports betting opportunities in the early stages of the pandemic, followed by a subsequent increase in availability as most sport leagues returned during the summer of 2020. Using a retrospective self-report measure of gambling participation, the present study investigated how the gambling behaviors of N = 85 past-year sports gamblers changed over the course of the pandemic. It was hypothesized that sports gamblers would report an initial decrease in gambling behaviors from pre-pandemic baseline levels to the early stages of the pandemic in May of 2020 when the availability of sports gambling was heavily restricted, followed by an increase in gambling behaviors from May to August, in accordance with the re-emergence of live sporting events. The general pattern of results supported the hypotheses, though gambling behaviors did not completely return to baseline levels. Beyond quantifying the changes in gambling behaviors over the early stages of the pandemic in Canada, results may have implications regarding the utility of voluntary gambling exclusion programs as well as legislation concerning gambling access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Otis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Andy J. Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Simon B. Sherry
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Igor Yakovenko
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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35
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Estimation of Behavioral Addiction Prevalence During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2022; 9:486-517. [PMID: 36118286 PMCID: PMC9465150 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s lifestyles and such changed lifestyles included the potential of increasing addictive behaviors. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of different behavioral addictions (i.e., internet addiction, smartphone addiction, gaming addiction, social media addiction, food addiction, exercise addiction, gambling addiction, and shopping addiction) both overall and separately. Recent Findings Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, and ProQuest) were searched. Peer-reviewed papers published in English between December 2019 and July 2022 were reviewed and analyzed. Search terms were selected using PECO-S criteria: population (no limitation in participants’ characteristics), exposure (COVID-19 pandemic), comparison (healthy populations), outcome (frequency or prevalence of behavioral addiction), and study design (observational study). A total of 94 studies with 237,657 participants from 40 different countries (mean age 25.02 years; 57.41% females). The overall prevalence of behavioral addiction irrespective of addiction type (after correcting for publication bias) was 11.1% (95% CI: 5.4 to 16.8%). The prevalence rates for each separate behavioral addiction (after correcting for publication bias) were 10.6% for internet addiction, 30.7% for smartphone addiction, 5.3% for gaming addiction, 15.1% for social media addiction, 21% for food addiction, 9.4% for sex addiction, 7% for exercise addiction, 7.2% for gambling addiction, and 7.2% for shopping addiction. In the lockdown periods, prevalence of food addiction, gaming addiction, and social media addiction was higher compared to non-lockdown periods. Smartphone and social media addiction was associated with methodological quality of studies (i.e., the higher the risk of boas, the higher the prevalence rate). Other associated factors of social media addiction were the percentage of female participants, mean age of participants, percentage of individuals using the internet in country, and developing status of country. The percentage of individuals in the population using the internet was associated with all the prevalence of behavioral addiction overall and the prevalence of sex addiction and gambling addiction. Gaming addiction prevalence was associated with data collection method (online vs. other methods) that is gaming addiction prevalence was much lower using online methods to collect the data. Summary Behavioral addictions appeared to be potential health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers and government authorities should foster some campaigns that assist people in coping with stress during COVID-19 pandemics to prevent them from developing behavioral addictions during COVID-19 and subsequent pandemics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40429-022-00435-6.
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Gambling in Canada During the Pandemic: 6 Months After the National COVID Lockdown. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADDICTION 2022. [DOI: 10.1097/cxa.0000000000000157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Carragher N, Long J, Radu I, King DL, Billieux J, Rumpf HJ, Assanangkornchai S, Saunders JB, Higuchi S. Monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on problematic gambling and gaming: an international key informant survey. INTERNATIONAL GAMBLING STUDIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14459795.2022.2114526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Carragher
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jiang Long
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ilinca Radu
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel L. King
- College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joël Billieux
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Centre for Excessive Gambling, Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospitals (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Jürgen Rumpf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sawitri Assanangkornchai
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - John B. Saunders
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Susumu Higuchi
- National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Yokosuka, Japan
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An interrupted time series analysis of gambling behavior based on gambling operator revenue-based taxation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Public Health 2022; 211:14-20. [PMID: 35988505 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The impact of COVID-19 on gambling behavior and the gambling industry itself has been widely speculated. Prior studies have shown how boredom, social isolation, poor mental health, and financial hardships, all of which have been associated with COVID-19, can aggravate problem gambling behaviors in patients with gambling disorders while also luring newcomers. Few studies have used methods other than self-report to assess longitudinal behavioral changes in gambling behavior before versus during the pandemic. STUDY DESIGN The present study addresses this gap by using an interrupted time series approach on data obtained from the Swedish Gambling Authority measuring taxation on gambling vendors' revenue between January 2019 and November 2021. METHODS March, June, and October 2020 were chosen as interruption points as they correspond to the pandemic's commencement, the return of elite sports, and the second wave of cases in Sweden, respectively. We hypothesized that the pandemic would be associated with both temporary changes for select gambling types and long-term increases in online gambling. RESULTS Results revealed the pandemic's onset was associated with transient effects at each point of interruption, as well as long-term upward trends in total gambling and commercial online gambling, excluding horse betting and the state-owned operator for online casinos and betting. CONCLUSIONS The present study's findings, although consistent with the theory that gambling activity could increase during the pandemic, contradict previous studies that found no changes or a decrease from pre-COVID-19 levels. Findings indicate that the pandemic and Sweden's reaction to it were associated with increased use of some gambling products.
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Savolainen I, Vuorinen I, Sirola A, Oksanen A. Gambling and gaming during COVID-19: The role of mental health and social motives in gambling and gaming problems. Compr Psychiatry 2022; 117:152331. [PMID: 35772368 PMCID: PMC9188486 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The uncertain and stressful global situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to cause anxiety and impact people's mental health. Simultaneously, social distancing policies have isolated people from their normal social interactions. These societal changes have inevitably influenced gambling and gaming practices, and many people may have turned to betting or gaming as a means of social exchange. This study examined the influence of COVID-19 anxiety on increased mental health problems and their relationship to gambling and gaming problems. The mediating role of social motives for gambling and gaming was also investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS Finnish adults (N = 1530; Mage = 46.67; 50.33% male) were recruited from a volunteer participant panel to participate in a survey study. COVID-19 anxiety was assessed using a scale adapted from the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Mental health problems were evaluated with the five-item Mental Health Inventory. Gambling problems were measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and gaming problems were measured with the Internet Gaming Disorder Test. Social motives for gaming were evaluated using a single-item measure. Analyses used generalised structural equation modelling. RESULTS COVID-19 anxiety predicted increased mental health problems, which were associated with heightened gambling and gaming problems. Social motives for gambling and gaming were a significant mediator, suggesting that gambling and gaming problems are emphasized markedly among those who are socially motivated by and involved in such games. CONCLUSIONS Mental health problems experienced during the pandemic and the social properties of games might accentuate gambling and gaming problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iina Savolainen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Ilkka Vuorinen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Anu Sirola
- Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Atte Oksanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
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Marionneau V, Mandolesi G, Rolando S, Nikkinen J. Addressing gambling harms by reducing the supply of electronic gambling machines: a comparative study of Italy and Finland. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1016. [PMID: 35590275 PMCID: PMC9119843 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13398-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Electronic gambling machines (EGMs) are amongst the most harmful forms of gambling. The high availability of EGMs is also linked to increased consumption. To reduce the burden of EGMs on public health, policies to reduce their numbers have recently been introduced in Italy and Finland. This study compares the aims and justifications of these legislative changes, as well as their overall impacts on total consumption. Methods The objectives and justifications of policies to reduce the number of EGMs were based on qualitative media analysis. The impacts on total consumption were measured using financial figures provided by gambling providers in Italy and Finland. Results Results show that the reductions in EGM numbers were justified in terms of public health concerns in both countries, but the amplitude of policies varied. In Italy, the reductions were more ambitious than in Finland, and included reductions in the number of gambling locations. The financial data nevertheless indicated that the reductions may not have been significant enough. Conclusions Public health concerns were initially highlighted in the media discussions, but eventually in both countries reduction policies were less ambitious due to industry lobbying and state revenue interests. The reductions therefore do not appear to have been effective in reducing total consumption and the burden on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Marionneau
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Sciences, University Researcher, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | - Sara Rolando
- Research and Training Institute ECLECTICA, Turin, Italy
| | - Janne Nikkinen
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), Faculty of Social Sciences, University Researcher, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Donati MA, Capitanucci D, Beccari C, Smaniotto R, Quadrelli E, Casini A, Primi C. What About Affected Family Members of Disordered Gamblers During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Study in Italy During the Lockdown Restrictions. Front Psychol 2022; 13:801835. [PMID: 35558714 PMCID: PMC9088675 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.801835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although some studies have been conducted on gambling behaviour in the general population or in clinical samples during the COVID-19 pandemic, less attention has been focused on Affected Family Members (AFMs) of disordered gamblers. To fill this gap, this study investigated the psychological state of disordered gamblers' AFMs during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, the European country first affected by the virus and with the largest gambling market. We were interested in understanding if the unavailability of most land-based gambling offerings during the lockdown created a sense of relief in AFMs. We also compared the quality of family relationships and emotional state during the lockdown of AFMs with those of their relative with Gambling Disorder (GD). Participants were 53 disordered gamblers' AFMs (77% female; mean age = 50.28). For 42 out of the 53 AFMs, we also recruited their relative with GD (86% male; mean age = 48.98). A semi-structured telephone interview was developed. Although AFMs reported a general interruption of the relative's gambling behaviour and a general sense of relief for the closure of gambling activities, accompanied by the perception of good family relationships, AFMs still felt tired, worried, and apprehensive and perceived more fear, stress, and anxiety than before the lockdown. A large proportion of AFMs engaged in potentially addictive behaviours, especially TV and mobile phone and Internet use, which increased in frequency compared to before the pandemic. They still perceived some gambling-related problematic behaviours from their relative and put in place coping strategies to manage the gambling problem. Even if they had a general positive orientation towards the future, they experienced fear when thinking about the reopening of gambling opportunities at the end of the lockdown. Compared to their relatives with GD, AFMs appeared more prone to perceiving a general negative state and a worsening of it from before the lockdown. Overall, this study shows that disordered gambling's AFMs can be considered as a particularly at-risk group who deserves focused clinical attention even during gambling closures related to pandemic lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anna Donati
- Section of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Capitanucci
- Association Azzardo e Nuove Dipendenze [AND (Gambling and New Addictions)], Gallarate, Italy
| | - Carola Beccari
- Section of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Smaniotto
- Association Azzardo e Nuove Dipendenze [AND (Gambling and New Addictions)], Gallarate, Italy
| | | | - Alfredo Casini
- Mental Health and Addiction Department of La Spezia, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Caterina Primi
- Section of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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42
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Price A, Tabri N, Stark S, Balodis IM, Wohl MJA. Mental Health Over Time and Financial Concerns Predict Change in Online Gambling During COVID-19. Int J Ment Health Addict 2022; 21:1-15. [PMID: 35079239 PMCID: PMC8772534 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-021-00750-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined online gambling behavior during COVID-19 land-based gambling restrictions and associations with changes in mental health, impacts on household income due to the pandemic, financially focused motivations, and symptoms of gambling problems. A repeated online survey was administered to adult gamblers in Ontario, Canada. Wave 1 was conducted at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown (April 2020) and wave 2 in August 2020. Respondents (N = 940) completed validated self-report questionnaires related to depression and anxiety, financial motivation, financial impacts due to the pandemic, online gambling behaviors, and problem gambling symptomatology. A cluster analysis identified three subgroups: no online gambling (subgroup 1), engagement in a range of gambling games online and change in gambling involvement (i.e., some increased and some decreased gambling; subgroup 2), and predominantly online lottery play with no change in online gambling (subgroup 3). Respondents who reported increased anxiety and depression symptom severity between the two waves and those who experienced greater symptoms of problem gambling and negative impacts on household income due to COVID-19 were most likely to be found in subgroup 2. Greater financial focus was also noted in this group. Results indicate a link between change in online gambling involvement during COVID-19 and increased mental health problems, elevated problem gambling severity, negative impacts on household income, and a greater financially focused self-concept. These results may help generate novel research questions examining short and long-term effects of the pandemic on online behaviors that inform policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Price
- Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices, The Responsible Gambling Council, 411 Richmond Street East Unit 205, Toronto, ON Canada
- Ontario Gambling Research Society, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Nassim Tabri
- Ontario Gambling Research Society, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Sasha Stark
- Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices, The Responsible Gambling Council, 411 Richmond Street East Unit 205, Toronto, ON Canada
- Ontario Gambling Research Society, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Iris M. Balodis
- Ontario Gambling Research Society, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada
| | - Michael J. A. Wohl
- Ontario Gambling Research Society, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
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Marionneau V, Järvinen-Tassopoulos J. From Habit-Forming to Habit-Breaking Availability: Experiences on Electronic Gambling Machine Closures During COVID-19. Front Psychol 2022; 12:788586. [PMID: 35126239 PMCID: PMC8811210 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.788586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Electronic gambling machines (EGMs) are among the most harmful forms of gambling. The structural characteristics of EGMs prolong and reinforce gambling similarly to other habit-forming technologies. In Finland, the wide availability of EGMs in non-casino locations is likely to further reinforce the habit-creating nature of gambling offer by incorporating EGMs into everyday practices. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of gambling in Finland. The most visible change was the closure of land-based EGMs in non-casino environments, arcades, and the casino in March 2020. Since then, the status of EGMs has varied depending on the pandemic situation. The current qualitative study focuses on how Finnish past-year gamblers experience prolonged EGM closures and occasional re-openings 1 year into the pandemic. The data consist of responses to an online questionnaire eliciting experiences (N = 187) as well as interviews (N = 27, conducted in groups or alone). To aid our analysis, we employ the sociological pragmatist theory of the concept of "habit." The analysis focuses on gambler experiences on EGM shutdowns and re-openings, and views on whether closures have contributed to abstaining from gambling or to shifting to other gambling products. Policy implications of the results are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Marionneau
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Research on Addictions, Control, and Governance, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Gjoneska B, Potenza MN, Jones J, Corazza O, Hall N, Sales CMD, Grünblatt E, Martinotti G, Burkauskas J, Werling AM, Walitza S, Zohar J, Menchón JM, Király O, Chamberlain SR, Fineberg NA, Demetrovics Z. Problematic use of the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic: Good practices and mental health recommendations. Compr Psychiatry 2022; 112:152279. [PMID: 34700188 PMCID: PMC8529894 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerated spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus came jurisdictional limitations on mobility of citizens and distinct alterations in their daily routines. Confined to their homes, many people increased their overall internet use, with problematic use of the internet (PUI) becoming a potential reason for increased mental health concerns. Our narrative review summarizes information on the extent of PUI during the pandemic, by focusing on three types: online gaming, gambling and pornography viewing. We conclude by providing guidance for mental health professionals and those affected by PUI (with an outline of immediate research priorities and best therapeutic approaches), as well as for the general public (with an overview of safe and preventative practices).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry and Child Study Centre, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Centre, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA.
| | - Julia Jones
- Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
| | - Ornella Corazza
- Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK; Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
| | - Natalie Hall
- Centre for Health Services and Clinical Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
| | - Célia M D Sales
- Centre for Psychology, University of Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK; Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Italy.
| | - Julius Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Anna Maria Werling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Joseph Zohar
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - José M Menchón
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Cibersam, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Orsolya Király
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Samuel R Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
| | - Naomi A Fineberg
- University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK; University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar.
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Lopez-Gonzalez H, Jimenez-Murcia S, Rius-Buitrago A, Griffiths MD. Do Online Gambling Products Require Traditional Therapy for Gambling Disorder to Change? Evidence from Focus Group Interviews with Mental Health Professionals Treating Online Gamblers. J Gambl Stud 2022; 38:681-697. [PMID: 34655397 PMCID: PMC8520338 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-021-10064-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Online gambling has significantly altered the situational and structural characteristics of gambling products, to the extent that online gamblers might be substantially different from traditional offline gamblers. A growing body of literature has identified the evolving features of online gambling and the individuals who engage in it. However, beyond understanding the individual characteristics of this subgroup, relatively less effort has been made to examine whether existing cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches are still entirely relevant for online problem gamblers, or whether changes are needed to adapt according to gambling mode of access. To understand what kind of challenges online gambling poses to mental health professionals dealing with disordered gamblers, four focus groups comprising 28 Spanish participants were carried out. All the treatment providers had ongoing experience with online gamblers undergoing treatment, and included clinical psychologists, mental health social workers, and a medical doctor. The data were examined using thematic analysis. The analysis identified five main themes that characterised online gamblers: (1) being of younger age, (2) lack of conflicts at home and at work/educational centre, rarely presenting violent or aggressive behaviour, (3) gambling disorder only being identified by overdue debt, (4) co-occurring conditions with technology-related abuse rather than other substance-related addictions, and (5) skill-based gambling. The study highlights mental health workers' perceived insecurities about how to best treat online gamblers, and discusses the specific characteristics that CBT for gambling disorder might need to incorporate to adjust for this particular group of gamblers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hibai Lopez-Gonzalez
- Department of Library, Information Science, and Communication, University of Barcelona, Melcior de Palau 140, 08014 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jimenez-Murcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mark D. Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
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Risk Factors for Increased Online Gambling during COVID-19 Lockdowns in New Zealand: A Longitudinal Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182412946. [PMID: 34948555 PMCID: PMC8701404 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182412946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Recent research investigating changes in gambling behaviors during periods of COVID-19 social restrictions, such as enforced lockdowns, are somewhat limited by methodology, being generally cross-sectional in nature and with participant samples recruited via online panels. The present study overcame these limitations via a secondary analysis of data collected in 2012 and 2015 from a New Zealand (NZ) longitudinal gambling study, with questions related to gambling behaviors due to COVID-19 lockdown periods included in an additional data collection, of participants who had previously scored as a risky gambler, during 2020/21. Almost one-quarter of online gamblers increased their gambling during lockdown with this most likely to be on overseas gambling sites, instant scratch card gambling and Lotto. The only sociodemographic risk factor for increased online gambling was higher education. Behavioral risk factors included being a current low risk/moderate risk/problem gambler, a previously hazardous alcohol drinker or past participation in free-to-play gambling-type games. These past behaviors could act as trigger points for health services or family and friends to monitor a person’s gambling behaviors during lockdown, or future stressful periods when usual terrestrial gambling opportunities are curtailed or unavailable, and to support safer gambling practices.
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Claesdotter-Knutsson E, André F, Håkansson A. Gaming Activity and Possible Changes in Gaming Behavior Among Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Online Survey Study. JMIR Serious Games 2021; 10:e33059. [PMID: 34817386 PMCID: PMC8793916 DOI: 10.2196/33059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Young people’s daily lives and social interactions changed remarkably during the COVID-19 pandemic as schools and cinemas closed, leisure activities were cancelled, and gatherings were regulated. Questions have been raised by the media, schools, policy makers, and research communities about the effect on young people’s online behaviors. Objective This cross-sectional study aimed to study self-reported changes in gaming, focusing on a younger section of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. We also wanted to look at potential risk factors behind problematic gaming during the pandemic, including gaming patterns, gambling behavior, psychological distress, certain sociodemographic characteristics, health factors, and school situation. Methods This was an anonymous online survey study of web panel participants in Sweden (n=1501) to study changes in gaming behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-reported increases in gaming were analyzed in logistic regression analyses against sociodemographic and health factors. Results Within the study population that reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences in age, employment status, disposable income, whether they ever played on loot boxes, time spent at home, school attendance, psychological distress, and gambling and gaming problems, as well as significant differences in changes in alcohol consumption and exercise habits. When examining the 16–24-year-old age group who reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences within the group in disposable income, time at home, and school attendance. When examining the 25–39-year-old age group who reported changes in gaming activity, we found significant differences within the group in employment status, disposable income, time spent at home, whether the respondents were studying, school attendance level, psychological distress, and gaming problems, as well as significant differences in changes in alcohol consumption and exercise habits. Psychological distress (all age groups analyzed together; 25–39-year-old age group), drinking less alcohol (all age groups analyzed together), spending more time at home (all age groups analyzed together), gaming problems, and exercising less (25–39-year-old age group) were positively correlated with a self-reported increase in gaming activity. Being employed (25–39-year-old age group) and being over 40 years of age (all age groups analyzed together) were negatively correlated with increased gaming. We found no significant correlations in the 16–24-year-old age group. Conclusions Those who reported increased gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to be 16 years to 39 years old. In the age group of 25 years to 39 years old, the increase was associated with psychological distress, reporting less exercise, and being unemployed. COVID-19 may present as a risk factor of increased online gaming in a small but vulnerable group. More research and preferably longitudinal studies are needed in the field of gaming and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frida André
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine,, Lund University, Lund, SE
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine,Malmö Addiction Centre, Gambling Disorder Unit,, Lund University, Lund, SE
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Claesdotter-Knutsson E, Håkansson A. Changes in Self-Reported Web-Based Gambling Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study. JMIR Serious Games 2021; 9:e30747. [PMID: 34730540 PMCID: PMC8568044 DOI: 10.2196/30747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID‑19 pandemic has affected not only somatic health with over 3.7 million deaths worldwide, but also has had a huge impact on psychological health, creating what amounts to a mental health crisis. The negative effect of the pandemic on traditional addictions is well described and concerning, and the same has been seen for gambling. Objective This study explores self-reported web-based gambling behavior during the COVID‑19 pandemic in Sweden. We investigated overall changes, but also changes in specific web-based gambling types, and whether they are associated with certain risk factors or lifestyle changes. Methods Our study is based on an anonymous web-based survey of web panel participants in Sweden (N=1501) designed to study a range of behavioral changes during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Increases in gambling were analyzed using logistic regression models against sociodemographic data and psychological distress. Results The majority of the respondents who gambled reported no changes in their gambling habits during the COVID‑19 pandemic. We found significant associations with the problem gambling severity index (PGSI), the Kessler score (indicating psychological distress), employment status, changes in alcohol habits, and self-exclusion when looking at overall changes in gambling activity in the pandemic. In the subgroup that reported an increase in gambling activity, we found an association with both the PGSI and Kessler scores. The PGSI score was also an independent predictor for all specific web-based gambling (horses, sports, poker, and casino) whereas the Kessler score only had a significant impact on changes in casino gambling. In addition, male gender was an independent predictor for gambling on sports and casino gambling. Conclusions The majority of respondents who gambled reported no changes in their gambling activity during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The group that reported an increase in overall gambling activity during the COVID-19 pandemic represent a group with gambling problems and psychological distress. The group that reported increased sports and casino gambling were often male, and this group seemed to experience more psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Håkansson A, Sundvall A, Lyckberg A. Effects of a national preventive intervention against potential COVID-19-related gambling problems. A self-report survey in online gamblers. JMIR Form Res 2021; 6:e33066. [PMID: 34678751 PMCID: PMC8916099 DOI: 10.2196/33066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has been suspected to increase gambling problems in the population. Several governments early introduced COVID-19-specific interventions aiming to prevent gambling problems, but their effects have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to evaluate a Swedish COVID-19-related temporary legislation imposing an automated weekly deposit limit for online casino gambling. METHODS The study was an anonymous survey sent by the state-owned gambling operator to online gamblers (N=619, among whom 54 percent moderate-risk/problem gamblers) who reached the weekly limit on online gambling during the summer of 2020. RESULTS Sixty percent were aware of having been limited by a COVID-19-related deposit limit, and a minority (23 percent) perceived the intervention as fairly bad or very bad. Among those aware of the intervention, 39 percent believed this intervention decreased their overall gambling, whereas eight percent believed it rather increased it. However, 83 percent reported having gambled on more than one operator after the limit, and the most common gambling type reported to have increased at another operator was online casino (42 percent in moderate-risk/problem gamblers and 19 percent in others, p<0.001). Having increased gambling following the intervention was associated with being a moderate-risk/problem gambler, and by negative attitudes towards the intervention. CONCLUSIONS A weekly deposit limit had relatively high acceptability, but the study highlights the limitations of a single-operator deposit limit, given the high number of gamblers also reporting to gamble on other operators, and the lower effect in clients with gambling problems. CLINICALTRIAL
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