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Wardle H, Kesaite V, Tipping S, McManus S. Changes in severity of problem gambling and subsequent suicide attempts: a longitudinal survey of young adults in Great Britain, 2018-20. Lancet Public Health 2023; 8:e217-e225. [PMID: 36841562 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(23)00008-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cross-sectional studies identify problem gambling as a risk factor for suicidality. Using an online longitudinal survey, we aimed to examine the association between changes in severity of gambling behaviour and attempted suicide. METHODS The Emerging Adults Gambling Survey is a longitudinal survey of people in England, Scotland, and Wales, aged 16-24 years interviewed online between June 25 and Aug 16, 2019 (wave 1) and 1 year later between July 13 and Oct 8, 2020 (wave 2). The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was administered at both waves. Multivariable logistic regression models examined wave 1 PGSI score and between-wave change in PGSI score as risk factors for suicide attempts at wave 2, unadjusted and with adjustment for wellbeing, anxiousness, impulsivity, perceived loneliness, and suicide attempts at wave 1. FINDINGS 3549 participants were interviewed in wave 1 and 2094 were interviewed in wave 2, of whom 1941 were included in this analysis (749 [39%] men; 1192 women [61%]). Prevalence of attempted suicide did not change between waves (wave 1: 3·7% [95% CI 2·9-4·8], n=75; wave 2: 3·3% [2·5-4·3], n=65). 78·9% (95% CI 76·7-80·9, n=1575) of participants had stable PGSI scores between the two waves, 13·7% (11·9-15·6, n=233) of participants had a decrease in PGSI score by 1 or more, and 7·5% (6·2-8·9, n=133) had an increase in PGSI score by 1 or more. An increase in PGSI scores over time was associated with suicide attempt at wave 2, even with adjustment for baseline PGSI score and other factors (adjusted odds ratio 2·74 [95% CI 1·20-6·27]). Wave 1 PGSI score alone was not associated with suicide attempt at wave 2 in fully adjusted models. INTERPRETATION Repeated routine screening for changes in gambling harm could be embedded in health, social care, and public service settings to allow effective identification and suicide prevention activities among young adults. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Viktorija Kesaite
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Sally McManus
- School of Health and Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
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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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Wardle H, Tipping S. The relationship between problematic gambling severity and engagement with gambling products: Longitudinal analysis of the Emerging Adults Gambling Survey. Addiction 2023; 118:1127-1139. [PMID: 36606732 DOI: 10.1111/add.16125] [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: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To measure the association between problem gambling severity and 19 different gambling activities among emerging adults (aged 16-26). DESIGN An online non-probability longitudinal survey collecting data in two waves: wave 1, July/August 2019; wave 2, July/October 2020. SETTING Great Britain PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2080 young adults participating in both waves. MEASUREMENTS Problem gambling scores were collected using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Binary variables recorded past year participation in 19 different gambling forms, ranging from lotteries to online casino and gambling-like practices within digital games (e.g. loot box purchase, skin betting). Controls included socio-demographic/economic characteristics, the Eysenck Impulsivity Scale and the number of gambling activities undertaken. FINDINGS Zero inflated negative binomial model lacked evidence of an effect between past year participation in any individual activities and subsequent PGSI scores. However, negative binomial random effects models for current gamblers (n = 497) showed that skin betting (incidence-rate ratio [IRR] = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.69-3.19), fixed odd betting terminals (IRR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.61-3.05), slot/fruit machines (IRR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.07-1.91), online betting on horse/dog races (IRR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.17-2.00) and online betting on non-sports events (IRR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.11-1.89) were associated with increased PGSI scores. Online casino gambling had a significant interaction by wave; the impact of online casino betting in wave 2 on PGSI scores increased by a factor of 1.61. CONCLUSIONS Past year participation of young adults (aged 16-26) in certain forms of gambling does not appear to be associated with future Problem Gambling Severity Index scores. Among young adults who are current gamblers, past year participation in certain land-based (e.g. electronic gaming machines) and online forms (e.g. skin betting) of gambling appears to be strongly associated with elevated Problem Gambling Severity Index scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Wardle H, Critchlow N, Brown A, Donnachie C, Kolesnikov A, Hunt K. The association between gambling marketing and unplanned gambling spend: Synthesised findings from two online cross-sectional surveys. Addict Behav 2022; 135:107440. [DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Bowden-Jones H, Hook RW, Grant JE, Ioannidis K, Corazza O, Fineberg NA, Singer BF, Roberts A, Bethlehem R, Dymond S, Romero-Garcia R, Robbins TW, Cortese S, Thomas SA, Sahakian BJ, Dowling NA, Chamberlain SR. Gambling disorder in the UK: key research priorities and the urgent need for independent research funding. Lancet Psychiatry 2022; 9:321-329. [PMID: 35180386 PMCID: PMC7612512 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gambling in the modern era is pervasive owing to the variety of gambling opportunities available, including those that use technology (eg, online applications on smartphones). Although many people gamble recreationally without undue negative effects, a sizeable subset of individuals develop disordered gambling, which is associated with marked functional impairment including other mental health problems, relationship problems, bankruptcy, suicidality, and criminality. The National UK Research Network for Behavioural Addictions (NUK-BA) was established to promote understanding of, research into, and treatments for behavioural addictions including gambling disorder, which is the only formally recognised behavioural addiction. In this Health Policy paper, we outline the status of research and treatment for disordered gambling in the UK (including funding issues) and key research that should be conducted to establish the magnitude of the problem, vulnerability and resilience factors, the underlying neurobiology, long-term consequences, and treatment opportunities. In particular, we emphasise the need to: (1) conduct independent longitudinal research into the prevalence of disordered gambling (including gambling disorder and at-risk gambling), and gambling harms, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (2) select and refine the most suitable pragmatic measurement tools; (3) identify predictors (eg, vulnerability and resilience markers) of disordered gambling in people who gamble recreationally, including in vulnerable and minoritised groups; (4) conduct randomised controlled trials on psychological interventions and pharmacotherapy for gambling disorder; (5) improve understanding of the neurobiological basis of gambling disorder, including impulsivity and compulsivity, genetics, and biomarkers; and (6) develop clinical guidelines based on the best contemporary research evidence to guide effective clinical interventions. We also highlight the need to consider what can be learnt from approaches towards mitigating gambling-related harm in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrietta Bowden-Jones
- National Problem Gambling Clinic & National Centre for Gaming Disorders, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Faculty of Brain Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Roxanne W Hook
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jon E Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Konstantinos Ioannidis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ornella Corazza
- Department of Clinical, Pharmacological and Biological Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Naomi A Fineberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Hertforshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, UK
| | - Bryan F Singer
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Amanda Roberts
- School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | | | - Simon Dymond
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK; Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Rafa Romero-Garcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Samuele Cortese
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK; Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York University Child Study Center, New York City, NY, USA; Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Shane A Thomas
- School of Health, Federation University, Ballarat, VIC Australia
| | | | - Nicki A Dowling
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Samuel R Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
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Brodeur M, Audette-Chapdelaine S, Savard AC, Kairouz S. Gambling and the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 111:110389. [PMID: 34146652 PMCID: PMC8643271 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of COVID-19 on mental health is tremendous. Since the beginning of the pandemic, several actors have raised concerns about the impact of the pandemic on gambling. Many actors fear a switch to online gambling in the context of the closure of many land-based gambling activities due to the restrictions imposed by public health authorities, such as physical distancing and lockdowns. This switch is worrisome because online gambling is considered a high-risk game. In that context, we need to know more about the impacts of the pandemic on gambling. This scoping review aims to summarize the literature that addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling. To our knowledge, this is the first review to focus on this subject. METHODS An electronic literature search involving a strategy using keywords related to COVID-19 and gambling was conducted using MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Social Works Abstract, and Socio Index databases on February 25th 2021. This search was combined with a manual search in Google Scholar. To be included, studies had to discuss gambling and COVID-19 as a primary theme, be written in English, and be published in a peer-reviewed journal. After collecting the information, we collated, summarized, and reported the results using narrative synthesis. RESULTS The search identified 181 articles. After the removal of duplicates and screening, 24 full-text articles were reviewed and included in this study: 14 original articles, 8 commentaries or editorials, and 2 protocols. Contrary to expectations, preliminary evidence suggested that gambling behavior often either decreased or stayed the same for most gamblers during the pandemic. However, for the minority who showed increased gambling behavior, there was frequently an association with problem gambling. CONCLUSION The available literature on COVID-19 and gambling is limited and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling behavior and gambling problems is still unclear. Therefore, there is a need for more research on this topic, both qualitative and mixed methods studies, to better understand the impact of the pandemic on gambling. Considering the results, we need to be careful, particularly with problem gamblers and other subgroups of the population who seem to be more vulnerable to increased gambling habits during this pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magaly Brodeur
- Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
| | - Sophie Audette-Chapdelaine
- Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Annie-Claude Savard
- École de travail social et de criminologie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvia Kairouz
- Département de sociologie et d'anthropologie, Université Concordia, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Wardle H, McManus S. Suicidality and gambling among young adults in Great Britain: results from a cross-sectional online survey. Lancet Public Health 2021; 6:e39-e49. [PMID: 33417845 PMCID: PMC7788474 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(20)30232-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide rates in young people have increased in England and Wales since 2010. There are a range of possible explanations for this increase, and problem gambling has been suggested as a potential risk factor. We aimed to examine the association between suicidality (suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts) and problem gambling specifically for young adults in Great Britain, where gambling has become more widely available and normalised in the past two decades. METHODS We analysed data from the Emerging Adults Gambling Survey: a cross-sectional, online, non-probability sample survey of young adults aged 16-24 years living in Great Britain, who were selected from a YouGov online panel. Participants were eligible if they had not taken part in any other YouGov survey on gambling in the past year. We examined associations between problem gambling (defined as a score of 8 or higher on the Problem Gambling Severity Index [PGSI]) and suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in the year before survey completion in a series of regression models, with and without adjustment for sociodemographic factors, alcohol use, video gaming, anxiety, loneliness, and impulsivity. FINDINGS 3549 eligible participants completed the survey between June 25 and Aug 16, 2019. 24 (37·0% [95% CI 25·6-50·2]) of 62 men who had attempted suicide in the past year had survey scores that were indicative of problem gambling, compared with 38 (3·6% [2·6-5·0]) of 1077 men who had not attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts in the past year. 13 (14·5% [8·5-23·6]) of 85 women who had attempted suicide in the past year had survey scores that were indicative of problem gambling, compared with 25 (2·0% [1·4-3·0]) of 1184 women who had not attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts in the past year. The adjusted odds ratio for attempted suicide was 9·0 (4·1-19·7) in men with scores that indicated problem gambling and 4·9 (2·0-12·0) in women with scores that indicated problem gambling, compared with participants of the same gender with PGSI scores of 0. INTERPRETATION Problem gambling appears to be associated with suicide attempts in both young men and young women. This association persisted after adjusting for anxiety, impulsivity, life satisfaction, and other factors, which suggests that other mechanisms, such as the severity and multiplicity of harms experienced, or gambling to cope with life stressors, might underpin this relationship. Young people with problem-gambling behaviours should be considered at risk for suicidality. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Sally McManus
- School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
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Hunt K, Critchlow N, Brown A, Bunn C, Dobbie F, Donnachie C, Gray CM, Purves R, Reith G, Stead M, Mitchell D, Wardle H. Protocol for a Mixed-Method Investigation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gambling Practices, Experiences and Marketing in the UK: The "Betting and Gaming COVID-19 Impact Study". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17228449. [PMID: 33203076 PMCID: PMC7697159 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17228449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented restrictions on people’s movements and interactions, as well as the cancellation of major sports events and social activities, directly altering the gambling landscape. There is urgent need to provide regulators, policy makers and treatment providers with evidence on the patterns and context of gambling during COVID-19 and its aftermath. This protocol describes a study addressing the following three questions: (1) How has COVID-19 changed gambling practices and the risk factors for, and experience of, gambling harms? (2) What is the effect of COVID-19 on gambling marketing? (3) How has COVID-19 changed high risk groups’ gambling experiences and practices? This mixed-method study focuses on two groups, namely young adults and sports bettors. In workpackage-1, we will extend an existing longitudinal survey of gambling in young adults (aged 16–24 years) (first wave conducted June–August 2019), adding COVID-19-related questions to the second wave (July–August 2020) and extending to a third wave in 2021; and undertake a survey of sports bettors in the UK (baseline n = 4000, ~July–August 2020), with follow-ups in ~October–November 2020 and ~February-March 2021. In workpackage-2, we will examine changes in expenditure on paid-for gambling advertising from January 2019 to July 2021 and undertake a mixed-method content analysis of a random sample of paid-for gambling advertising (n ~ 200) and social media marketing (n ~ 100) during the initial COVID-19 “lockdown”. Workpackage-3 will involve qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of (a) young adults (aged 18–24 years) and (b) sports bettors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Hunt
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Nathan Critchlow
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Ashley Brown
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Christopher Bunn
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (C.B.); (C.D.); (C.M.G.); (G.R.); (H.W.)
| | - Fiona Dobbie
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK;
| | - Craig Donnachie
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (C.B.); (C.D.); (C.M.G.); (G.R.); (H.W.)
| | - Cindy M. Gray
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (C.B.); (C.D.); (C.M.G.); (G.R.); (H.W.)
| | - Richard Purves
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Gerda Reith
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (C.B.); (C.D.); (C.M.G.); (G.R.); (H.W.)
| | - Martine Stead
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Danielle Mitchell
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK; (N.C.); (A.B.); (R.P.); (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; (C.B.); (C.D.); (C.M.G.); (G.R.); (H.W.)
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Wardle H, Petrovskaya E, Zendle D. Defining the esports bettor: evidence from an online panel survey of emerging adults. INTERNATIONAL GAMBLING STUDIES 2020; 20:487-499. [PMID: 37431491 PMCID: PMC7614738 DOI: 10.1080/14459795.2020.1826559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Competitive video gaming (esports) is a growing multi-national, billion-dollar industry. Esports cultures replicate traditional sports cultures, involving elite athletes, teams, league sponsorships, large viewing audiences, high profile leagues and championships, and opportunities to bet on outcomes. However, little is known about people who bet on esports, it is generally considered a niche practice. Using data from the Emerging Adults Gambling Study, a non-probability survey of 3549 people aged 16-24 living in Great Britain, the profile of esports bettors was compared with those who bet on other sports and non-gamblers. Those who bet on esports were more likely to be male, to be from nonwhite ethnic groups, to be heavily involved in playing digital games themselves, and to have higher rates of gambling involvement and problem gambling. Multivariate analysis showed a strong relationship between engaging in gambling-like practices within digital games and esports betting (for example, the purchase of loot boxes for money, or betting skins on external websites). Frequency of playing digital games was not associated with esports betting, suggesting it is not how often someone engages with digital games that is correlated with esports betting, but rather the different type of practices they undertake when playing video games.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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