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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

Andersson, M. J. LU orcid ; Balem, M. and Håkansson, A. LU (2022) In Public Health 211. p.14-20
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... (More)

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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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Behavioral addiction, COVID-19, Gambling disorder, Interrupted time series analysis, Problem gambling
in
Public Health
volume
211
pages
7 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85136088426
  • pmid:35988505
ISSN
0033-3506
DOI
10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.003
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eff13135-bb19-4e4f-96f2-f28454734cef
date added to LUP
2022-09-08 12:11:25
date last changed
2024-06-10 09:43:25
@article{eff13135-bb19-4e4f-96f2-f28454734cef,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersson, M. J. and Balem, M. and Håkansson, A.}},
  issn         = {{0033-3506}},
  keywords     = {{Behavioral addiction; COVID-19; Gambling disorder; Interrupted time series analysis; Problem gambling}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{14--20}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Public Health}},
  title        = {{An interrupted time series analysis of gambling behavior based on gambling operator revenue-based taxation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.003}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.003}},
  volume       = {{211}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}