Online gambling in unprecedented times: Risks and safer gambling strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives: how we work, socialize, and gamble. As land-based gambling venues around the world are shut down and many professional sports paused or cancelled, those persons who bet on sports or play in land-based venues are forced either to stop gambling or find other means to do so. Academic papers, market research, and news articles have reported that the reduction in available gambling opportunities and widespread COVID-19based restrictions (and associated stressors) are been linked to important changes in online gambling.