Gambling and Gaming in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The study is well-written and the theme is within the scope of the Journal. I have minor requests for the authors. 

1. The authors should use the manuscript word templete. There is no alignment of the manuscript.

2 Abstract The abstract lacks of information in the method section. Please add the scale you used.

3 Introduction "Similar..fear may apply... " Many terms have been proposed to describe the excessive use of video games.  The persistent and recurrent engangment with video games is rappresentative of the Internet addiction internet gaming disorder (IGD). Please describe its clinical features.

4 There are issues with the references in the Introduction (Di Blasi et al 2019 , Melodia et al., 2020 King et al., 2020). Please follow the journal guidelines. 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper represents an interesting study of the short-term effects the first COVID lockdown had on gambling and gaming activities, as well as related psychosocial consequences. The paper covered relevant literature and topics, the content is logical and coherent, and the used methodology is sound and appropriate to provide answers to the research questions.

I only have two minor recommendations for the authors:

(1) For the analysis presented in tables 2 & 3 (Wilcoxon test rank) I would suggest calculating effect size for variables where significant change was found - using formula r=Z/sqrt(N). Information about the effect size could also be relevant for the conclusions of this study.

(2) In chapter 4. Discussion (maybe sub-chapter Strengths and limitation), I would suggest the authors to emphasize and elaborate in more detail that this study provides short-term consequences of the first total lockdown. Long-term consequences with all other semi-lockdowns, restrictions and different health, psychological, and social (as well as financial) consequences are still unknown. After June 2020, the world did not “get back to normal” and in my opinion, the authors should address this issue in their discussion. Three months in total lockdown are stressful, but a year and a half in a semi-lockdown with unclear and changeable rules, as well as unpredictable surroundings, also provide major negative psychosocial consequences that could have an impact on gambling/gaming related symptoms.

 

In overall, I believe that this paper will provide a significant contribution to the scientific literature, especially as it combines gambling and gaming activities in one study.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx