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Published in: Current Addiction Reports 3/2024

07-05-2024 | COVID-19

Betting on Uncertainty: A Review of Changes in Gambling and Substitute Addictive Behaviours During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors: Lindsey A. Snaychuk, Jenna L. Vieira, Sophie G. Coelho, Maya C. Thulin, Aaron Palachi, Eliscia Siu-Lin Liang Sinclair, Hyoun S. Kim

Published in: Current Addiction Reports | Issue 3/2024

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review synthesized the empirical literature on patterns and correlates of changes in gambling, including substitute addictive behaviours, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

COVID-19 lockdowns limited access to certain gambling activities, potentially prompting some individuals to modify or substitute gambling behaviours by increasing engagement in another addictive behaviour to fulfill functions previously served by gambling.

Summary

A systematic literature search was conducted in August 2023. The search yielded 496 papers, of which 36 met eligibility criteria and were included in the present review. Findings generally supported overall decreases in gambling, although some studies found increases in specific gambling types. Correlates of change included problem gambling severity, substance use and psychological distress. Few studies examined addiction substitution, with mixed results. Findings extend upon previous reviews by including more recent empirical literature and assessing engagement in substitute gambling and other addictions behaviours during the pandemic.
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Metadata
Title
Betting on Uncertainty: A Review of Changes in Gambling and Substitute Addictive Behaviours During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors
Lindsey A. Snaychuk
Jenna L. Vieira
Sophie G. Coelho
Maya C. Thulin
Aaron Palachi
Eliscia Siu-Lin Liang Sinclair
Hyoun S. Kim
Publication date
07-05-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Current Addiction Reports / Issue 3/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2196-2952
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-024-00572-0

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