By Nick WardHow has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted those with gambling addictions?Professor Michael Wohl of the Department of Psychology has been asked to address this question at a talk delivered to Canadian MPs and Senators on Parliament Hill.“You might assume the unprecedented closure of casinos triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has been a good thing for gambling addicts given they can no longer spend money at such venues, but these dramatic access restrictions have had serious repercussions for those struggling with an addiction,” explains Wohl.Wohl has already conducted two studies on the impacts that the COVID-19 casino closures have had on gambling addicts.In an analysis of five hundred American gamblers, he found that the sudden lack of access led to a decrease in gambling but a troubling increase in alcohol and cannabis usage. He also found that about 15% of gamblers migrated online. Those who migrated gambled more than they did prior to the casino closures. The migrators tended to be from vulnerable populations: problem gamblers and gamblers with low-income.
For the second study, Wohl surveyed two thousand Ontario based gamblers and found an overall increase in online gambling. This signifies a migration to digital gambling from those who would previously gamble exclusively at land-based venues. Mirroring the results of his first study, Wohl also found an increase in alcohol and cannabis use amongst participants.“Online gambling is available 24 hours a day. As such, you can gamble continuously. There is no closing time. For high-risk populations, this can have devastating results.”It is important to note that gambling problems are difficult to track.“It’s the invisible addiction” – an individual can be struggling, and often there are no real signs beyond perhaps appearing fatigued that they are losing control of their lives and well-being.Despite its often-destructive nature, just like drug and alcohol usage, gambling can be acerbated when someone uses it to cope with or escape from negative life situations explains Wohl.Due to a variety of factors including fear, uncertainty and isolation, the COVID 19 pandemic has been a major stressor which will have resulted in many people conceding to their gambling cravings and thus neglecting their well-being.“Greater attention to the causes and consequences of disordered gambling is needed. Unfortunately, due in part to the fact that disordered gambling is less visible than other addictive behaviours, funding has become scarce. Moreover, governments often promote gambling widely due to its ability to generate weighty financial returns. My hope is that, by speaking with parliamentarians, disordered gambling will get the attention it deserves; for the sake of gamblers, their friends and family, and Canadian society at large,” says Wohl.Links: The Betterment Labs