Gambling has been suggested as one of the potential mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In earlier self-report studies, increased gambling has been reported by a limited proportion of respondents characterized with a high degree of problem gambling. The present study, carried out with the same methodology and in the same geographical setting, around seven months later in the pandemic, aimed to repeat and to extend the understanding of potential gambling changes in the population during COVID-19. An anonymous sample of web panel members was assessed, altogether 2029 individuals (52% women, 10% moderate-risk or problem gamblers). Results indicated that 6% reported increased gambling, and 4% reported decreased gambling during the pandemic. Having increased gambling was associated with more severe gambling problems (OR 2.78, 95% confidence interval 2.27–3.40), increased alcohol consumption (OR 2.92, 1.71–4.98), and psychological distress (OR 3.38, 1.83–6.23). In the group reporting increased gambling during COVID-19, moderate-risk/problem gambling was very common (62%). Recent governmental policy interventions in the area were known to a minority (30%) of respondents, but awareness of the regulations was markedly more common in individuals with at least moderate-risk gambling (56%) and in self-excluders (78%). Reporting of any perceived influence from policy changes was low (3%), and divided between those reporting an increasing and decreasing effect, respectively. Increased gambling may be a consequence of COVID-19-related changes in everyday lives of individuals with problematic gambling patterns. Thus, a vulnerable group demonstrates higher rates of gambling migration and psychosocial problems, and may require particular attention in screening and treatment contexts, and further scientific evaluations.

中文翻译：

---

瑞典在COVID-19期间赌博模式的变化以及预防性政策变化的潜力。再过九个月大流行

有人建议将赌博作为COVID-19大流行的潜在心理健康后果之一。在较早的自我报告研究中，据报道，有限比例的特征为高度问题赌博的受访者增加了赌博。本研究在大流行后约七个月后，以相同的方法和相同的地理环境进行，旨在重复研究并扩大对COVID-19期间人群中潜在赌博变化的理解。评估了一个匿名的网络小组成员样本，共计2029个人（52％的女性，10％的中度风险或有问题的赌徒）。结果表明，在大流行期间，有6％的人报告赌博增加，而4％的人报告赌博减少。增加赌博会带来更严重的赌博问题（OR 2.78，95％置信区间2.27–3.40），饮酒量增加（OR 2.92、1.71-4.98）和心理困扰（OR 3.38、1.83-6.23）。在报告COVID-19期间赌博增加的人群中，中等风险/问题赌博非常普遍（62％）。少数（30％）的受访者知道该地区最近的政府政策干预措施，但对于至少具有中度风险赌博的人（56％）和自首者（78％），对法规的了解明显更为普遍。 。关于政策变化的任何可感知影响的报告很低（3％），并且分别报告了影响增加和减少的影响。赌博数量增加可能是赌博模式存在问题的个人日常生活中与COVID-19相关的变化的结果。因此，