Online Study from Quebec Reveals Surge in Internet Gaming During Pandemic

In the turbulent year of 2020, the global COVID-19 outbreak brought a massive disruption to various sectors worldwide. The hospitality and entertainment industry, including gambling outlets, weren't spared from the pandemic's harsh impact, with temporary shutdowns occurring across numerous venues.

Now, a fascinating report sheds light on how the pandemic transformed the online gambling scene in Quebec, Canada, a region that has recently witnessed exponential growth in this sector. This study, carried out by researchers from Concordia University, reveals that during the pandemic's first full year, online gambling activities in Quebec skyrocketed.

The study asked 4,500 Quebec residents to share details about their gambling habits for the past 12 months, which was the pandemic's initial year. Sylvia Kairouz, a professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Concordia University and Research Chair on Gambling, asserted that the study revealed a remarkable increase in online gambling activities during the pandemic.

Online Gambling: Easy as Pie

Perhaps unsurprisingly, some land-based gamblers shifted to online platforms when the pandemic imposed restrictions. However, the study also discovered a new wave of users who got hooked on sports betting and online gambling during the pandemic.**

Recognizing the convenience of gambling from the comfort of one's home, laptop, or smartphone, roughly four out of ten respondents admitted they gambled at least once a week. A more alarming statistic shows that three out of ten respondents gambled multiple times a week.

The surge in online gambling was influenced by several factors. The respondents who increased their gambling habits during the pandemic stated that they felt lonely, bored, or isolated. Around 20% of participants acknowledged they gambled because they were in search of quick cash, while only 13% claimed they gambled less during the pandemic.

"The operators and gambling providers are promoting sports betting since changes in Canada's regulations have enabled it."

Meanwhile, the report highlighted an increase in advertising, which further pushed people towards online gambling websites and sports betting, an activity that has witnessed exponential growth not only in Canada but also in the US.

Besides the escalation in gambling activities, the report uncovered an alarming increase in self-reported gambling-related issues. Kairouz indicated that 10 times more online gamblers admitted experiencing problems connected to their gambling for the year 2021, compared to the 1.6% rate observed in 2018.

Overall, the pandemic acted as a catalyst for online gambling's massive growth in Quebec, but the province's established gambling infrastructure and technological advancements ensured that the increase would persist even after the pandemic subsides.

[1] Ding, L., & Gao, L. (2020). Online Gambling Participation in the COVID-19 Period. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 9(4), 697-709.[2] Harkin, M., Musureau, F., Schröder, G., & Grüsser, O. (2020). The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Gambling Behavior: A Preliminary Investigation. Addiction Research & Theory, 28(10), 1170-1177.[3] Ercole, S., Park, J., & Morrison, A. (2021). Gambling during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Canada. Addiction Research & Theory, Online First, 1-8.[4] Kent, A., & Ramirez, R. R. (2020). Mobile Gambling during COVID-19 pandemic confinement: A Rapid Evolution. America Journal of Public Health, 110(S7), S627-S631.[5] Legroulx, M., Lesesne, P., Machour, A., & Berignore, P. (2021). Rapid changes in gambling participation and behavior among college students during COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS ONE, Online First, 1-17.

The shift from land-based gambling to online platforms, including sports betting, became more prevalent during the pandemic as a result of imposed restrictions.
According to the study, around four in ten respondents admitted to gambling at least once a week, and three out of ten gambled multiple times a week.
Quebec's online gambling scene skyrocketed during the pandemic due to factors like feelings of loneliness, boredom, or isolation, as well as the search for quick cash.
Online gambling operators and providers have been promoting sports betting since changes in Canada's regulations have enabled it.
The alarming increase in self-reported gambling-related issues rose tenfold in 2021 compared to the 1.6% rate observed in 2018.