A recent study conducted by the University of Bristol examined how gambling behaviour was affected by the lockdown. You can find the original article here: Regular Gamblers Turned To Online Gambling During The Pandemic.
They sent out questionnaires to participants enquiring into the frequency of their gambling behaviour of every kind in the previous month, in addition to some mental health and financial questions. Through this, they found that both regular and occasional gamblers reduced the frequency of their gambling behaviour during lockdown.
However, online gambling was reported as being six times more common within regular gamblers and two times more common among occasional gamblers. This increase in gambling frequency was associated with alcohol abuse, since people who drank heavily were more likely to gamble every week compared to not gambling at all. Additionally, gambling was linked to the financial state of individuals, since those who were struggling financially were more likely to take part in gambling activities during lockdown.
In 2018 the NHS reported that 57% of men and 54% of women gambled, and the Gambling Commission indicates that online gambling had a growth of 8.1% from 2019 and 2020.
If you are someone who is struggling with addictions, please contact us at Salus Wellness Clinics for free advice and to explore possible solutions we can offer.