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
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Recruitment
2.3. Questionnaire Design and Content
2.4. Ethics
2.5. Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Perceived Changes in Gambling Practices during the Pandemic
3.1.1. Perceived Increase in Gambling Practices
I played a little more but kept control.(Participant 307, M, age 51, PGSI score 0)
Having more [free] time, there was an increase in gambling time.(Participant 5, F, age 61, PGSI score 12)
The pandemic did not create my problem; it simplified it drastically. It has made it completely free to exist without any barriers. Except the problem is that my life is suffering. I’m in danger of losing my home, and I’m embarrassed and too far gone to stop. It’s unhealthy and I can’t be the only one.(Participant 156, F, age 31, PGSI score 19)
The practice gradually increased and intensified in November [2020] to reach its peak. At the beginning of December, thanks to the self-banning offered on the online sites, the gambling stopped. In my case, the self-banning was more than enough to stop me (until when?). I don’t consider myself a gambler. It was a real effect of the pandemic, largely because of the huge amount of time available, and somewhat because of a secure government income [COVID-19 Canada Emergency Response Benefit].(Participant 350, M, age 32, PGSI score 6)
I used to play twice a year at the casino. One night after seeing a Loto-Quebec commercial online, I tried it. Because I had nothing to do, and I found it fun, I started playing online.(Participant 817, F, age 52, PGSI score 2)
I didn’t play before the pandemic, and I had a financial cushion. Now I gamble, and I don’t have a cushion! I have developed an addiction to gambling because of confinement!(Participant 274, F, age 44, PGSI score 4)
3.1.2. Perceived Decrease in Gambling Practices
The closing of the video lottery terminals in bars has made my life much better in the past year. I hope to be able to be even stronger when Loto-Quebec reopens its bar machines.(Participant 487, F, age 54, PGSI score 4)
The closing of the casinos has helped me a lot. I’m more of a poker player and I don’t have as much fun playing online. Plus, online I find it much easier to leave the table than to leave the casino. For me the pandemic has helped me a lot with my gambling problem.(Participant 714, F, age 33, PGSI score 11)
3.1.3. Perceived Stability in Gambling Practices
Gambling has not had a negative or positive impact on my life! My habits have also not changed because I have worked as much as in the previous years. However, only the time not going out has changed. New habits have been established. More reading, board games with my family.(Participant 144, F, age 32, PGSI score 0)
3.2. Perceived Impacts of Change in Gambling Practices
3.2.1. Emotional Impacts
I’m beyond destroyed… I’m even going to lose my home. I’m gambling all the time, hoping to make it back.(Participant 453, F, age 38, PGSI score 24)
3.2.2. Financial Impacts
I started playing online casinos. Before the pandemic, I used to go to the casino once a year; now, I play every week. It doesn’t cause me financial stress, though, but I am disappointed to lose money.(Participant 754, F, age 35, PGSI score 5)
3.3. Perceived Factors Influencing Gambling Practices during the Pandemic
3.3.1. Boredom and Time Availability
We have a lot more time to waste because we can’t socialize or have people over, so gambling is a new source of entertainment for us. We would never have played slots on a Friday night before. We used to socialize or have people over…(Participant 253, F, age 40, PGSI score 1)
3.3.2. Search for Positive Emotions
I occasionally play poker with friends. We created a group during lockdown that allowed us to play poker while chatting on zoom. We played every week because it was one of the few activities we could do, and it allowed us to chat online.(Participant 183, M, age 41, PGSI score 0)
3.3.3. Escape or Appeasement of Unpleasant Emotions
I feel like I’ve lost everything I had built up before the pandemic, both professionally and personally. I feel like I have nothing left. Gambling simply helps me not think about it.(Participant 1048, F, age 29, PGSI score 11)
3.3.4. Money Availability
We used to go to restaurants, movies, outings. Now, with the [public health] restrictions, we take the same amount to play scratchers.(Participant 1451, F, age 57, PGSI score 3)
3.3.5. Hope of Winning
3.3.6. Gambling Accessibility
Also, at the beginning of the pandemic, I installed the Loto-Quebec app on my phone because we couldn’t make purchases at the convenience store. I think it increased my gambling frequency, I don’t have to go anywhere. I can pay my lottery ticket from my living room, and I make my deposits directly on the app.(Participant 359, M, age 30, PGSI score 1)
3.3.7. Gambling Incentives
The impact: [it] has created depression. Loss of employment doesn’t help. The worst thing is that every two minutes on TV, there is an ad for online gambling, which doesn’t help the cause for a gambler.(Participant 258, M, age 40, PGSI score 18)
3.3.8. Participant’s Relationship to Online Gambling
It is more enjoyable to play in a place like a casino, because there is an atmosphere conducive to partying and having a good time. Playing online doesn’t offer anything close to the enjoyable casino experience.(Participant 235, M, age 42, PGSI score 0)
I discovered the Loto-Quebec online games site to buy a Loto max [lottery ticket], and I saw that there were lots of games, and it entertains me.(Participant 141, M, age 41, PGSI score 4)
Discovering online gambling caused me to lose $100,000 [CAD] in one year. I had never played online before… Anyway, hell…(Participant 999, M, age 47, PGSI score 25)
Closing casinos and gambling parlors has helped me greatly in controlling my addiction. The ability to set limits online has allowed me to put a $60-a-week marker and take more time for other things.(Participant 918, M, age 55, PGSI score 14)
Before the pandemic, I used to go to the casino once every two weeks, but since the casino closed, I play online. And online, there is nothing to stop me from spending, whereas when I went to the casino if I wasn’t there physically, I couldn’t spend…(Participant 755, M, age 30, PGSI score 14)
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Respondents (n = 724) | |
---|---|
Sex | |
• Female | 389 (54%) |
Age (years)—med (EIQ) a | 43 (33–55) |
Education | |
• No diploma | 37 (5%) |
• High school | 250 (35%) |
• College | 178 (25%) |
• University | 254 (35%) |
Occupation | |
• Employee | 420 (58%) |
• Independent worker | 69 (10%) |
• Unemployed | 49 (7%) |
• Student | 60 (8%) |
• Retiree | 93 (13%) |
• Other | 31 (4%) |
PGSI | |
• Non-problem gamblers | 171 (24%) |
• Low-risk gamblers | 129 (19%) |
• Moderate-risks gamblers | 210 (28%) |
• High-risk gamblers | 214 (29%) |
Theme | Sub-Theme |
---|---|
Perceived changes in gambling practices during the pandemic |
|
Perceived impacts of changes in gambling practices |
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Perceived factors influencing gambling practices during the pandemic |
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Renard, M.; Audette-Chapdelaine, S.; Savard, A.-C.; 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. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 16603. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416603
Renard M, Audette-Chapdelaine S, Savard A-C, 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(24):16603. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416603
Chicago/Turabian StyleRenard, Marianne, Sophie Audette-Chapdelaine, Annie-Claude Savard, Sylvia Kairouz, and Magaly Brodeur. 2022. "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 19, no. 24: 16603. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416603