Key Points
- Gambling levels that dropped at the height of COVID-19 shutdowns have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
- That’s according to Australian National University research released on Friday.
- Poker machines are one of the most addictive forms of gambling.
Punters are upping the ante as gambling levels that dropped at the height of COVID-19 shutdowns rebound to pre-pandemic levels.
Australian National University research released on Friday shows that physically restricting access effectively reduces gambling rates – particularly for those playing poker machines or betting on sports at low-risk levels.
“This is especially important as we know poker machines are one of the most addictive forms of gambling,” lead author Aino Suomi from the ANU Centre for Gambling Research said.
The study shows sports betting and poker machines have been the forms of gambling to recover the fastest.
“Once lockdown restrictions began to ease, the gambling participation, as well as gambling risk, tended to increase across all categories, including non-gamblers,” Dr Suomi said.
The study also showed that high-risk gambling flourished during the pandemic despite restrictions.
While physical gambling venues temporarily closed and national and international sporting codes were suspended, many Australians went online to place their bets.
Clear predictors of increased gambling during the global lockdowns, include: male gender, young age, higher problem gambling severity, and a history of mental health concerns, according to the study.
An Australian Institute of Family Studies survey showed a third of gamblers signed up for a new online betting account during COVID-19.
“Even with limited access to venues, overall, participants gambled more often during COVID-19,” the survey showed.
“The proportion who gambled four or more times a week increased from 23 to 32 per cent.”
Young men, aged 18-34 years, were most likely to sign up for new online accounts.
The results highlighted the need to improve support for high-risk gamblers, Dr Suomi said.
“The important pattern is that those gambling at risky levels were participating in sports betting at disproportionately high levels pre-, during and post-pandemic,” she said.