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ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to investigate potential changes in gambling behavior and their association with pandemic-related opinions and feelings during the lockdown in Germany. An online survey promoted via print and social media channels as well as radio interviews was conducted between 8 April and 11 May 2020 to assess self-reported changes in gambling activities and related opinions, health fears and perceived stress due to the social restrictions during the lockdown. Out of the total voluntary response sample (N = 3245, 63.9% females, 45.1% completed more than 13 school years), 66.9% (n = 2172) did not gamble neither before nor during the lockdown, 2.4% (n = 79) gambled more, 3.6% (n = 117) gambled less, 12.7% (n = 413) did not change their gambling behavior, 12.9% (n = 420) stopped gambling and 1.4% (n = 44) started gambling. The highest increase in gambling activities was related to online slot machines and online/offline roulette/card games. Higher perceived stress due to the restrictions was associated with an increase or onset of gambling. While many individuals reduced or even stopped gambling, for a minority the restrictions were associated with an increase of gambling activities. Future studies are needed to assess how subsequent lockdowns affect gambling over the longer term.
Funding sources
No funding sources were declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.
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No constraints on publishing were declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.
Competing interests
No competing interests were declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.
Preregistration statement
No preregistration was declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [EG], upon reasonable request.
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Ekaterini Georgiadou
Georgiadou Ekaterini, PhD, is a psychologist and since 2018 she leads the special outpatient clinic for behavioral addictions at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg (directed by Prof. T. Hillemacher). She is a member of the research group for addictions (Head: Prof. T. Hillemacher)
Astrid Müller
Astrid Müller, MD., PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Hannover Medical School, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany. Her main research areas are 1) assessment, etiology and psychotherapy of disorders due to addictive behaviors, and 2) cognitive functioning and psychosocial aspects in obesity and bariatric surgery.
Anne Koopmann
Since 2008, Anne Koopmann has been working as a physician (2008 until 2014 as a junior doctor and since 2014 as a senior physician) in the Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim (directed by Prof. Dr. med. F. Kiefer). Her research work in the department comprised fundamental studies and clinical trials in the field of Alcohol Addiction, Pathological Gambling and Internet Use Disorders. Since 2020 she leads the Research Group for therapy and care research for addiction disorders.
Tagrid Leménager
Since 2001, Tagrid Leménager has been working as a research assistant in the Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim (directed by Prof. Dr. med. F. Kiefer). Her research work in the department comprised fundamental studies and clinical trials in the field of Alcohol Addiction, Pathological Gambling and Internet Use Disorders. Since 2015 she leads the Research Group of Behavioral Addictions.
Thomas Hillemacher
Prof. Thomas Hillemacher is MD and the director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg. He leads the research group for addictions (disorders due to substance use and addictive behaviors). The research group comprised studies relating to neurobiology as well as social effects of various addictive disorders.
Falk Kiefer
Since 2016, Falk Kiefer is working as Medical Director of the Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim and have a professorship for addiction research at the University of Heidelberg. His research work in the department comprised fundamental studies and clinical trials in the field of Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Pathological Gambling and Internet Use Disorders.