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Tracking online searches for gambling activities and operators in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Google Trends™ analysis

Scott Houghton, Frederic Boy Orcid Logo, Alexander Bradley Orcid Logo, Richard James Orcid Logo, Heather Wardle Orcid Logo, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Volume: 12, Issue: 4, Pages: 983 - 991

Swansea University Authors: Scott Houghton, Frederic Boy Orcid Logo, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Whilst some research has explored the impact of COVID-19 on gambling behaviour, little is yet known about online search behaviours for gambling during this period. The current study explored gambling-related online searches before, during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. We...

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Published in: Journal of Behavioral Addictions
ISSN: 2062-5871 2063-5303
Published: Budapest, Hungary Akademiai Kiado Zrt. 2023
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64728
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Abstract: Whilst some research has explored the impact of COVID-19 on gambling behaviour, little is yet known about online search behaviours for gambling during this period. The current study explored gambling-related online searches before, during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. We also assessed whether search trends were related to Gambling Commission behavioural data over the same period. Methods: Google Trends search data, covering thirty months from January 2020 to June 2022, for five gambling activities and five gambling operators were downloaded. Graphical displays of the weekly relative search values over this period were then produced to visualise trends in search terms, with key dates in COVID-19 policy and sporting events highlighted. Cross-correlations between seasonally adjusted monthly search data and behavioural indices were conducted. Results: Sharp increases in internet searches for poker, slots, and bingo were evident during the first lockdown in the UK, with operator searches sharply decreasing over this period. No changes in gambling activity searches were highlighted during subsequent lockdowns, although small increases in operator-based searches were detected. Strong positive correlations were found between search data and industry data for sports betting and poker but not for slots. Conclusions: Google Trends data may act as an indicator of population-level gambling behaviour. Substitution of preferred gambling activities for others may have occurred during the first lockdown when opportunities for sports betting were limited. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of internet search data in predicting gambling-related harm.
Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, public health, gambling, activities, operators
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: The work described here was supported by an award from the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Scheme (SG2122\211340) to Simon Dymond and Heather Wardle. The open access publishing fees for this article were paid by the Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO). The authors would like to thank both British Academy/Leverhulme and GREO for their financial support that allowed this worked to be conducted and published.
Issue: 4
Start Page: 983
End Page: 991