Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden
Background: Voluntary self-exclusion is a well-known harm reduction intervention in problem gambling, although primarily in operator-specific or venue-based systems. A nationwide overall self-exclusion system (“Spelpaus”) for all licensed gambling was introduced in Sweden in 2019. However, gambling...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967/full |
| _version_ | 1819171600559243264 |
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| author | Anders Håkansson Anders Håkansson Carolina Widinghoff Carolina Widinghoff |
| author_facet | Anders Håkansson Anders Håkansson Carolina Widinghoff Carolina Widinghoff |
| author_sort | Anders Håkansson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Voluntary self-exclusion is a well-known harm reduction intervention in problem gambling, although primarily in operator-specific or venue-based systems. A nationwide overall self-exclusion system (“Spelpaus”) for all licensed gambling was introduced in Sweden in 2019. However, gambling in overseas companies despite national exclusion may be a concern in online gamblers. The present web survey study aimed to study self-reported self-exclusion and gambling despite exclusion in a nationwide multi-operator land-based/online exclusion system.Methods: Web survey in web panel members of a market survey company, carried out in May, 2020 (co-occurring with the COVID-19 pandemic). Past-year online gamblers (n = 997) answered questions about gambling patterns, gambling problems, psychological distress, self-exclusion since “Spelpaus” introduction, and gambling despite self-exclusion.Results: Seven percent reported ever self-excluded at Spelpaus, and this was associated with younger age, female gender, gambling problems, and chance-based games and online poker. In logistic regression, Spelpaus remained strongly associated with past-year online casino gambling, gambling problems, and absence of past-year sports betting. Among those having self-excluded, 38 percent reported gambling despite self-exclusion, most commonly online casino.Conclusions: In online gamblers in a setting with a nationwide self-exclusion system, using this was associated with past-year online casino gambling and gambling problems. Gambling despite self-exclusion appears to be common, and more commonly involves online casino. Stakeholders should aim to increase rates of self-exclusion in high-risk online gamblers, both during and beyond the COVID-19 situation in which the study was carried out. Also, policy makers should use gambling regulation in order to decrease the risk of breaching self-exclusion online, such as through the prohibition of non-registered gambling operators. Further research should focus on in-depth analysis of the reasons for gamblers to enroll or not enroll in multi-operator self-exclusion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:53:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f86db628a17f445cbad8e8ceeb539bdc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:53:52Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f86db628a17f445cbad8e8ceeb539bdc2022-12-21T18:14:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-12-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967599967Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in SwedenAnders Håkansson0Anders Håkansson1Carolina Widinghoff2Carolina Widinghoff3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, SwedenMalmö Addiction Center, Region Skåne, Malmö, SwedenFaculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, SwedenMalmö Addiction Center, Region Skåne, Malmö, SwedenBackground: Voluntary self-exclusion is a well-known harm reduction intervention in problem gambling, although primarily in operator-specific or venue-based systems. A nationwide overall self-exclusion system (“Spelpaus”) for all licensed gambling was introduced in Sweden in 2019. However, gambling in overseas companies despite national exclusion may be a concern in online gamblers. The present web survey study aimed to study self-reported self-exclusion and gambling despite exclusion in a nationwide multi-operator land-based/online exclusion system.Methods: Web survey in web panel members of a market survey company, carried out in May, 2020 (co-occurring with the COVID-19 pandemic). Past-year online gamblers (n = 997) answered questions about gambling patterns, gambling problems, psychological distress, self-exclusion since “Spelpaus” introduction, and gambling despite self-exclusion.Results: Seven percent reported ever self-excluded at Spelpaus, and this was associated with younger age, female gender, gambling problems, and chance-based games and online poker. In logistic regression, Spelpaus remained strongly associated with past-year online casino gambling, gambling problems, and absence of past-year sports betting. Among those having self-excluded, 38 percent reported gambling despite self-exclusion, most commonly online casino.Conclusions: In online gamblers in a setting with a nationwide self-exclusion system, using this was associated with past-year online casino gambling and gambling problems. Gambling despite self-exclusion appears to be common, and more commonly involves online casino. Stakeholders should aim to increase rates of self-exclusion in high-risk online gamblers, both during and beyond the COVID-19 situation in which the study was carried out. Also, policy makers should use gambling regulation in order to decrease the risk of breaching self-exclusion online, such as through the prohibition of non-registered gambling operators. Further research should focus on in-depth analysis of the reasons for gamblers to enroll or not enroll in multi-operator self-exclusion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967/fullgambling disorderproblem gamblingonline gamblingonline casinobehavioral addictionself-exclusion |
| spellingShingle | Anders Håkansson Anders Håkansson Carolina Widinghoff Carolina Widinghoff Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden Frontiers in Psychiatry gambling disorder problem gambling online gambling online casino behavioral addiction self-exclusion |
| title | Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden |
| title_full | Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden |
| title_fullStr | Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden |
| title_short | Gambling Despite Nationwide Self-Exclusion–A Survey in Online Gamblers in Sweden |
| title_sort | gambling despite nationwide self exclusion a survey in online gamblers in sweden |
| topic | gambling disorder problem gambling online gambling online casino behavioral addiction self-exclusion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599967/full |
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