The impact of the initial Covid-19 lockdown upon regular sports bettors in Britain: Findings from a cross-sectional online study.
Covid-19
Gambling
Gambling harms
Sports betting
Journal
Addictive behaviors
ISSN: 1873-6327
Titre abrégé: Addict Behav
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7603486
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2021
07 2021
Historique:
received:
10
11
2020
revised:
04
02
2021
accepted:
08
02
2021
pubmed:
2
3
2021
medline:
27
4
2021
entrez:
1
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In Britain, unprecedented restrictions on daily life associated with the Covid-19 pandemic included the suspension of professional sports events during the initial 'lockdown'. This provides opportunities to observe changes in sports bettors' behaviour when their primary form of activity is removed and assess the impact of Covid-19 related circumstances upon gambling. In July 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of people who bet regularly (at least monthly) on sports before Covid-19 (n = 3866). Bi-variate analyses compared changes in gambling behaviours before and during the initial lockdown. Multi-variate logistic regression models explored associations between problem gambling (men) and moderate risk or problem gambling (MRPG) (women) with changes in Covid-19 related circumstances and changing gambling behaviours during Britain's initial 'lockdown' (March-June 2020). 29.8% of male sports bettors and 33.4% of female sports bettors stopped gambling altogether during the initial Covid-19 lockdown, though 17.3% of men and 16.5% of women started a new form of gambling during lockdown. Among men, adjusted odds ratios of problem gambling were higher among those starting a new gambling activity during lockdown (OR = 2.50 [95% CI 1.38-4.53]). Among women, adjusted odds ratios of MRPG were higher among those whose frequency of gambling on any activity increased during lockdown (OR = 4.21 [1.99-8.92] and among those shielding for health reasons. Poorer wellbeing was associated with problem gambling for men and MRPG for women. Those changing gambling behaviours during the initial Covid-19 lockdown (e.g. increasing gambling frequency or starting a new gambling activity) are potentially vulnerable to gambling harms.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In Britain, unprecedented restrictions on daily life associated with the Covid-19 pandemic included the suspension of professional sports events during the initial 'lockdown'. This provides opportunities to observe changes in sports bettors' behaviour when their primary form of activity is removed and assess the impact of Covid-19 related circumstances upon gambling.
METHODS
In July 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of people who bet regularly (at least monthly) on sports before Covid-19 (n = 3866). Bi-variate analyses compared changes in gambling behaviours before and during the initial lockdown. Multi-variate logistic regression models explored associations between problem gambling (men) and moderate risk or problem gambling (MRPG) (women) with changes in Covid-19 related circumstances and changing gambling behaviours during Britain's initial 'lockdown' (March-June 2020).
RESULTS
29.8% of male sports bettors and 33.4% of female sports bettors stopped gambling altogether during the initial Covid-19 lockdown, though 17.3% of men and 16.5% of women started a new form of gambling during lockdown. Among men, adjusted odds ratios of problem gambling were higher among those starting a new gambling activity during lockdown (OR = 2.50 [95% CI 1.38-4.53]). Among women, adjusted odds ratios of MRPG were higher among those whose frequency of gambling on any activity increased during lockdown (OR = 4.21 [1.99-8.92] and among those shielding for health reasons. Poorer wellbeing was associated with problem gambling for men and MRPG for women.
CONCLUSIONS
Those changing gambling behaviours during the initial Covid-19 lockdown (e.g. increasing gambling frequency or starting a new gambling activity) are potentially vulnerable to gambling harms.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33647707
pii: S0306-4603(21)00061-7
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106876
pmc: PMC9757982
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
106876Subventions
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/S019200/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Références
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jun 05;17(11):
pubmed: 32516880
J Gambl Stud. 2017 Dec;33(4):1081-1097
pubmed: 28181028
Harm Reduct J. 2019 Mar 4;16(1):18
pubmed: 30832672
Addict Behav. 2020 Aug;107:106386
pubmed: 32272355
Addiction. 2002 May;97(5):487-99
pubmed: 12033650
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 15;17(22):
pubmed: 33203076
J Gambl Stud. 2018 Dec;34(4):1407-1421
pubmed: 29589165
Harm Reduct J. 2018 Apr 24;15(1):22
pubmed: 29690876
J Gambl Stud. 2021 Jun;37(2):711-722
pubmed: 32960384
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007 Nov 27;5:63
pubmed: 18042300
Int J Ment Health Addict. 2020 May 29;:1-8
pubmed: 32837423
J Gambl Stud. 2018 Mar;34(1):55-71
pubmed: 28447288
Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Oct;7(10):883-892
pubmed: 32707037
Int J Ment Health Addict. 2022;20(1):362-379
pubmed: 32837444
Eur Addict Res. 2016;22(2):90-8
pubmed: 26343859
Can J Public Health. 2021 Jun;112(3):521-529
pubmed: 33439477
Front Public Health. 2020 Sep 29;8:554542
pubmed: 33117770