Transitions to more harmful forms of gambling during Covid-19 pandemic: behaviours and targeted marketing in young people and bettors on sport
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Health Sciences
Abstract
Around 2 million people experience some harms from gambling, and many gamble on live events (including sports) and online. The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated unprecedented restrictions on people's movements and interactions in public and private settings, and led to the cancellation of major sports events and social activities. These consequences of the COVID-19 'lockdown' have altered the gambling landscape worldwide.
There is an urgent need to provide regulators, policy makers and treatment providers (e.g. World Health Organisation (WHO), Gambling Commission, All Party Parliamentary Group on online gambling harms) with high quality evidence on the changing patterns and context of gambling behaviours during COVID-19 and its aftermath. Insight is needed into: the actions undertaken by industry so regulators can consider immediate actions; understanding of new risk groups susceptible to gambling harms to develop effective prevention strategies; and understanding of the escalation and maintenance of harms to inform treatment and support provision.
To meet this need, we will address three major research questions across three integrated workpackages: 'How has COVID-19 changed gambling practices, and the risk factors for and experience of gambling harms?'; 'What is the effect of COVID-19 on gambling marketing?'; and 'How has COVID-19 changed high risk groups' gambling experiences and practices?'. Drawing on our extensive experience of mixed-methods research, we will focus on two groups at particular risk of adopting more risky, online gambling practices - young adults and sports bettors.
The team, jointly led by Hunt, Wardle and Critchlow, will draw on their strong network of stakeholder partnerships to ensure timely dissemination and impact.
There is an urgent need to provide regulators, policy makers and treatment providers (e.g. World Health Organisation (WHO), Gambling Commission, All Party Parliamentary Group on online gambling harms) with high quality evidence on the changing patterns and context of gambling behaviours during COVID-19 and its aftermath. Insight is needed into: the actions undertaken by industry so regulators can consider immediate actions; understanding of new risk groups susceptible to gambling harms to develop effective prevention strategies; and understanding of the escalation and maintenance of harms to inform treatment and support provision.
To meet this need, we will address three major research questions across three integrated workpackages: 'How has COVID-19 changed gambling practices, and the risk factors for and experience of gambling harms?'; 'What is the effect of COVID-19 on gambling marketing?'; and 'How has COVID-19 changed high risk groups' gambling experiences and practices?'. Drawing on our extensive experience of mixed-methods research, we will focus on two groups at particular risk of adopting more risky, online gambling practices - young adults and sports bettors.
The team, jointly led by Hunt, Wardle and Critchlow, will draw on their strong network of stakeholder partnerships to ensure timely dissemination and impact.
Organisations
Publications
Critchlow N
(2023)
Expenditure on Paid-for Gambling Advertising During the National COVID-19 'Lockdowns': An Observational Study of Media Monitoring Data from the United Kingdom.
in Journal of gambling studies
Hunt K
(2020)
Protocol for a Mixed-Method Investigation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Gambling Practices, Experiences and Marketing in the UK: The "Betting and Gaming COVID-19 Impact Study".
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Wardle H
(2022)
Is the economic model of gambling dependent on problem gambling? Evidence from an online survey of regular sports bettors in Britain
in International Gambling Studies
Wardle H
(2022)
The association between gambling marketing and unplanned gambling spend: Synthesised findings from two online cross-sectional surveys.
in Addictive behaviors
Wardle H
(2021)
The impact of the initial Covid-19 lockdown upon regular sports bettors in Britain: Findings from a cross-sectional online study.
in Addictive behaviors
| Description | Using the online survey platform YouGov, the researchers surveyed regular sports bettors - those who had previously placed a bet on sports (including horse races) at least once a month - to understand their gambling behaviour pre-lockdown (between December 2019 and February 2020) and during lockdown (March 23 - mid-June 2020). The participants - 3,084 men and 782 women - were also asked about their gambling attitudes, awareness of gambling marketing, experiences of gambling harm, and any health and lifestyle experiences associated with COVID-19. The study found 29.8% of male and 33.4% of female sports bettors stopped gambling altogether during lockdown. However, around one in six regular sports bettors, started new gambling activities - 5.4% male sports bettors started playing lotteries and 3.5% began betting on virtual sports and races. Among female sports bettors, 6.8% started betting on virtual sports and races, 6.5% began playing lotteries, and 3.4% took up online bingo. For male sports bettors, problem gambling was a greater risk among those who had started a new gambling activity during lockdown, and for women, moderate risk or problem gambling was higher among those whose frequency of gambling on any activity increased during lockdown. |
| Exploitation Route | Contributing to discussions about regulation of gambling industry to prevent health and welfare harms linked to gambling and to Covid-19 |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| URL | https://osf.io/f4zgw/ |
| Description | We have contributed to ministerial roundtables and presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group on gambling and to the Peers for Gambling Reform. Our study has informed the further development of an intervention entitled, Reclaim the Game, which is being delivered for the first time in Spring 2022 at two professional football clubs. The intervention is designed to engage sports bettors who are not yet problem gamblers but are becoming concerned about their gambling activities. The programme supports them in reducing their gambling. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Participation in roundtable discussion with DCMS, the APPG on Gambling and Peers for Gambling reform |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Results from marketing paper shared with Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Appearance of BBC Newsnight (June 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Heather Wardle has shared details of our work with journalists and media producers, including appearing on BBC Newsnight (in June 2022) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Beyond a Bet (podcast) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nathan Critchlow did an interview to the 'Message recall' podcast about gambling marketing entitled 'Beyond a Bet' which I would reasonably attribute to this project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://messagerecall.co.uk/beyond-a-bet |
| Description | Communications to All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harms (March 2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | HW presented key findings from the study that were pertinent to the GAR. Afterwards, she was contacted by Jo Evans, Gambling Policy Lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority writing "that your presentation was really informative in terms of what we can do to develop a persuasive case for action to inform the government's review of the gambling act. I'm in the process of writing a response from GM and having heard you speaking I have included some of the content you mentioned, as well as giving me a slightly different angle on our submission." In addition, HW was contacted by Rochelle Beale from the Department of Health and Social Care who requested a copy of the slides to share with her colleagues. Since then HW has been in regular contact with the APPGGH, supporting them regarding their understanding of the evidence around gambling harms |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Contribution to Raschkowan Lecture Series - 'Gambling in the Digital Age' 2022-3 Webinars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Data from project included in webinar on 20 October 2022 by Dr Heather Wardle, entitled 'Games without Frontiers? Exploring Gambling and Gaming Behaviours among Youth |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://yginternational.wordpress.com/2022/09/22/raschkowan-webinar-series-dr-heather-wardle-october... |
| Description | Contribution to Rolling the Dice podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HW discussed the team's research findings on a podcast for Sky News, entitled Rolling the Dice: Has the COVID-19 pandemic cause a gambling pandemic? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://news.sky.com/story/rolling-the-dice-has-covid-19-caused-a-gambling-pandemic-12239976 |
| Description | Feature in i-gaming |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Marketing paper reported in: https://igamingbusiness.com/marketing-affiliates/gambling-ads-unplanned-spend/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://igamingbusiness.com/marketing-affiliates/gambling-ads-unplanned-spend/ |
| Description | Finnish Gambling Network Webinar exploring the impact of COVID-19 in the UK and Finland (June 2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HW presented results from the study at a webinar organised by the Finnish Gambling Network, which explored the impact of COVID-19 in both the UK and Finland (June 12th 2021) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Gambling Act Review: policy briefing document and webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Whilst our project was live, the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) announced the commencement of the Gambling Act Review (GAR) and launched a call for evidence, focusing on 40 specific questions. We used data from our study to provide novel evidence to help answer these questions. Relevant findings were disseminated in the form of a policy briefing document and a policy briefing webinar (10 March 2021) attended by ~50 participants, including representatives from DCMS, local government and the Department of Health. Colleagues from DCMS wrote to us after the webinar stating: "I attended your webinar on 10th March analysing sports betting behaviours during the pandemic and I wanted to pass on my thanks for your insights. As part of the team working on the ongoing Review of the Gambling Act 2005, a manifesto commitment, the framing of some of your findings in response to specific questions in our Call for Evidence was particularly useful. Our call closes on the 31st March and we would very much welcome a written submission from you and colleagues based on the impactful research you have produced" Evidence from this briefing paper was cited in a letter sent from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harms and the Peers for Gambling Reform network to the Minister in charge of the Gambling Act Review, citing evidence on the impact of advertising upon behaviour: see here: http://grh-appg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Minister-Whittingdale-Gambling-ads-Letter-22-July.pdf. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Gambling and young people webinar February 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Gambling and young people webinar: HW presented findings (11 Feb 2021) from the second wave of survey data on young people looking at the extent to which specific COVID-19 related experiences were associated with the onset of problematic gambling. This webinar was hosted by Gambling Research Exchange Ontario and had an international audience of over 50 policy makers, academics and treatment providers. It highlighted how young people are additionally vulnerable to gambling-harms because of the accelerated impact of experience of certain life events (like bereavement). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Guardian opinion piece October 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Guardian Op-ed Piece in 2021 entitled "Britain need not be a nation of gamblers. We have to rein in this industry" included reference to the findings in our paper entitled "Is the economic model of gambling dependent on problem gambling?". The Guardian piece was read by over 25,000 people, commented on by over 400 and was in the Guardian's top ten of articles read that day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/04/britain-nation-gamblers-industry-profits-revie... |
| Description | Interview about project for documentary on ITV Tonight |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Heather Wardle was interviewed and filmed for an ITV Tonight documentary (including about our project findings). Documentary is due to be screened on 9th March 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview on Go Radio March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio appearances: HW was interviewed on Go Radio: March 2nd 2021 about the impact of the initial lockdown upon gambling behaviours |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Interviews for national and international media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Wardle had multiple phone calls with journalists at the New York Times and Bloomberg, who have both done investigative series on gambling in America, to inform their thinking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-08-26/draftkings-sportsbook-at-wrigley-field-aims-to-ho... |
| Description | Peers for Gambling Reform |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | HW has been providing ongoing support to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Harms and the Peers for Gambling Reform group, helping them to understand the evidence base. Our work was heavily cited by them in a letter sent by the chair's of each organisation discussing the impact of gambling advertising. See here: http://grh-appg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Minister-Whittingdale-Gambling-ads-Letter-22-July.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Policy briefing 2 - evidence for gambling act review |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Wardle H, Critchlow N, Donnachie C, Brown A, Hunt K (2021) Betting and gambling Covid-19 Impact study. Briefing paper 2: Key insights to inform the UK government's review of the Gambling Act 2005. Briefing prepared to summarise new evidence from the study relevant to key questions raised by the Government for their review of the 2005 Gambling Act |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Policy briefings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Policy briefing papers: • Wardle H, Hunt K, Critchlow N (2020) Gambling during Covid-19Insights from the Betting and Gambling Covid-19 Impact Study: Briefing paper 1. Available at: https://osf.io/n7ebh/. This policy briefing paper provided early insights into the impact of the initial COVID-19 lockdown. It was shared with major stakeholders and has been cited in the review of gambling harms published in September 2021 by Public Health England. • Wardle H, Critchlow N, Donnachie C, Brown A, Hunt K (2021) Betting and gambling Covid-19 Impact study. Briefing paper 2: Key insights to inform the UK government's review of the Gambling Act 2005. Available at: https://osf.io/9cy37/. This policy briefing paper was prepared in response to the UK government's Call for Evidence as part of the review of the Gambling Act 2005. It provided the most recent data: on the proportion of gambling revenue generated by problem gamblers; expenditure on gambling advertising and marketing and impact of marketing; and what our data implied about the risk of a "black market" emerging for gambling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://osf.io/9cy37/ |
| Description | Presentation by Dr Nathan Critchlow at Current Advances in Gambling Research Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation entitled 'Expenditure on Paid-For Gambling Advertising During The COVID-19 Pandemic 'Lockdowns': An Observational Study of Media Monitoring Data in the United Kingdom' (Nathan Critchlow, Kate Hunt, Heather Wardle and Martine Stead) in session on Gambling Advertising, Social Media, and Emerging Data Platforms at conference May 20th 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://cagrconference.org/schedule/ |
| Description | Radio interview - Lunchtime Live March 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio appearances: HW was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland - Lunchtime live: March 2nd 2021 about the impact of the initial lockdown upon gambling behaviours |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Results included in BBC news report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Project results reported in BBC news feature entitled "Gambling: Perfect storm predicted in December, experts say" published on 7 December 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63731443 |
| Description | Sky News interview June 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HW was interviewed on Sky News on the potential risks and impact of the pandemic upon gambling behaviours. June 13 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://news.sky.com/story/footballs-return-could-be-a-perfect-storm-for-problem-gamblers-12006091 |
| Description | Webinar and policy briefing to inform UK Government's Review of 2005 Gambling Act |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Webinar, and policy briefing paper, to report how early findings from the study can inform the UK Government's ongoing Review of the 2005 Gambling Act |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | media coverage of findingd |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press release for published papers Media interviews (including BBC Scotland, Sky podcast etc |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | presentation at UK SSM conference Sept 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation title - How the design and nature of gambling marketing affects consumers: Findings from a content analysis of advertising and in-depth interviews with sports bettors and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | presentation at the Society for the Study of Addiction Conference November 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HW presented preliminary results from the study at the Society for the Study of Addiction Conference 6th November 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |