Monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on problematic gambling and gaming: an international key informant survey

ABSTRACT This paper reports a qualitative survey of experts in problem gaming and/or problem gambling from 19 countries worldwide on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on problematic gaming and gambling. Twenty-seven problem gaming experts reported (i) no licensing changes, (ii) few existing or newly introduced policies or regulations, (iii) overall increases in gaming, (iv) adverse health-related outcomes, (v) media coverage of gaming and eSports, (vi) limited health service capacity for treatment and prevention, (vii) difficulty in connecting with patients, and (viii) adaptations including transition to telemedicine. Twenty-eight problem gambling experts reported (i) no changes in policies or regulation, (ii) increased activity of off-shore betting companies, and (iii) increases in online gambling, though (iv) decreased expenditure due to closure of land-based gambling venues, (v) adverse health-related outcomes, (vi) some financial benefits from savings, (vii) few and poorly accessible treatment facilities and (viii) transition to telemedicine. There is a need for: guidelines on the prevention and management of excessive gaming and gambling; studies examining the public health consequences of eSports viewing and participation and closure of land-based gambling venues on other forms of gambling; and longitudinal studies in a number of different areas described herein.