Being a Gambler during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study with Italian Patients and the Effects of Reduced Exposition

Maria Anna Donati, Silvia Cabrini, Daniela Capitanucci, Caterina Primi, Roberta Smaniotto, Maurizio Avanzi, Eleonora Quadrelli, Giovanna Bielli, Alfredo Casini and Alessandra Roaro
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Maria Anna Donati: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child’s Health, Section of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Silvia Cabrini: National Health Drugs Service (Servizio Dipendenze Patologiche, Ser.DP) of Piacenza, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale AUSL Piacenza, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
Daniela Capitanucci: Association AND-Azzardo e Nuove Dipendenze [Gambling and New Addictions], 21013 Gallarate, Italy
Caterina Primi: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug, and Child’s Health, Section of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Roberta Smaniotto: Association AND-Azzardo e Nuove Dipendenze [Gambling and New Addictions], 21013 Gallarate, Italy
Maurizio Avanzi: National Health Drugs Service (Servizio Dipendenze Patologiche, Ser.DP) of Piacenza, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale AUSL Piacenza, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
Eleonora Quadrelli: Cometa Consorzio di Cooperative Sociali [Consortium of Social Cooperatives], 19121 La Spezia, Italy
Giovanna Bielli: National Health Drugs Service (Servizio Dipendenze Ser.D.) of Parabiago (Milan), Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale, ASST Ovest Milanese, 20025 Legnano, Italy
Alfredo Casini: National Health Drugs Service, Mental Health and Addiction Department (SERT) of La Spezia, ASL Azienda Sociosanitaria Ligure 5, 19121 La Spezia, Italy
Alessandra Roaro: National Health Drugs Service (Servizio Dipendenze Ser.D.) of Parabiago (Milan), Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale, ASST Ovest Milanese, 20025 Legnano, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic, with the consequent lockdown of about 3 months, can be viewed as an experimental model to observe the impact of the depletion of environmental factors that stimulate gambling, particularly electronic gambling machines (EGMs) that were set to zero. The effects of some structural characteristics of gambling activities that increase gambling behavior were studied among disordered gamblers in treatment in this unique scenario. In fact, studies investigating the effects of the lockdown on problem gamblers (PGs) under treatment are missing. The aims of this study were to analyze patients’ gambling behavior and craving during the lockdown and to conduct a comparison between gambling disorder (GD) symptoms at the beginning of the treatment and during lockdown. The study was conducted in Italy, the European country with the largest gambling market and the first to be affected by the virus. Data were collected through a semi-structured telephone interview conducted by healthcare professionals. Participants were 135 PGs under treatment (109 males, mean age = 50.07). Results showed that most PGs achieved a significant improvement in their quality of life, with less gambling behavior, GD symptoms, and lower craving. No shift toward online gambling and very limited shift towards other potential addictive and excessive behaviors occurred. The longer the treatment, the more monitoring is present and the better the results in terms of symptoms reduction. Individual and environmental characteristics during the lockdown favored the reduction in symptoms. Consideration for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; gambling disorder; environmental prevention; gambling restrictions; problem gamblers; harm reduction; abstinence; telephone interview; treatment; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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