Gambling and the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Quebec (Canada): results from an online cross-sectional survey of people who had gambled within the last 12 months.

The sample showed high rates of at-risk and problem gambling, with more than half of participants classified as moderate-risk or higher.

• Sample consisted of 973 gamblers who completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)
• 24.7% were no-risk gamblers, 18.6% were low-risk gamblers, 27.9% were moderate-risk gamblers, and 28.9% were high-risk or problem gamblers
• Participants were French-speaking adults living in Quebec who had gambled at least once in the preceding 12 months
• Data were collected via a cross-sectional online survey

Most participants reported increases in online gambling, duration of gambling availability, and gambling frequency during the pandemic.

• The majority of participants reported an increase in their online gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Participants also reported increases in the duration in which they were available for gambling
• Increases in the frequency with which they gambled during the pandemic were also reported
• These behavioral changes were observed across the sample of 973 gamblers

Eleven independent variables explained 50.9% of the variance of problematic gambling (PGSI ≥ 3) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Problematic gambling was defined as a PGSI score of 3 or higher
• The 11 variables were related to types of gambling, psychosocial factors, changes in tobacco use, gambling expenditures, and high gambling frequency in the last 12 months
• Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify these variables
• Descriptive analysis, χ2 or Monte Carlo estimation, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were also conducted

There were positive associations between PGSI scores and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

• Higher PGSI scores were associated with greater symptoms of both depression and anxiety
• This association was observed among the 973 gamblers surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Mental health impacts were identified as a key outcome alongside changes in gambling behaviour
• Gamblers also showed reluctance to seek assistance for problematic gambling

The study identified a need for future research on gamblers' mental health following the easing of COVID-19-related public health measures.

• The general increase in various gambling behaviours during the pandemic was noted as a public health concern
• Observed impacts on mental health and reluctance to seek help were highlighted as ongoing concerns
• Authors called for exploration of mental health outcomes after COVID-19-related public health measures were eased
• The study represents the quantitative phase of a two-phase mixed methods study