According to figures provided by a database that tracks the consumption patterns of Australian residents, a concerning increase in online gambling combined with a rise in alcohol sales has been registered during the social distancing, mostly due to the fact that the isolation makes people more stressed than usual.
The data, compiled by AlphaBeta, an analytics consultancy company, and Illion, a credit firm, has fuelled concerns that the economic and social climate in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic could unleash a massive wave of addictive behaviours and gambling-related harm.
Figures have shown 67% rise in the number of Australians who have spent money on online gambling during the past week in comparison to their average weekly spending. A 33% increase in local people’s expenditures on tobacco and alcohol was also marked.
As Casino Guardian reported, Charles Livingstone, an Associate Professor from the Monash University, has previously shared that the temporary closures of local pubs and clubs, part of regular poker machine users who collectively spend about AU$15 billion on an annual basis, would start gambling online. Now, Mr Livingstone shared that a 67% increase in the number of people, who went online and spent money on web-based gambling services, is quite alarming. According to him, once the customers started moving to an online environment, things could quickly get out of control.
Lengthy Lockdown and Social Isolation Could Lead to Riskier Gambling Behaviour, Experts Say
Some experts claim that a clear link between social isolation and people increasing their gambling and drinking habits exist. As mentioned above, lengthy self-isolation measures could have a negative impact on people’s behaviour as they are typically more anxious and stressed. On the other hand, some experts believe that drinking could also lead to increased and riskier gambling.
Reports have shown that Australians are also getting more oriented to free mobile phone games that pretty much resemble the effects of poker machines and allow them to keep playing by purchasing special credits.
Tony Mohr, who is the executive director of Alliance for Gambling Reform, explained that the applications were designed in a way that makes them as addictive as controversial pokies. He, however, explained that the key area of the anti-gambling group mostly involved major sports betting websites that are exploring more betting categories and novel sports.
A TAB spokesperson has also confirmed that customers’ focus has shifted towards activity to digital platforms, with people’s betting on horse races remaining strong as the sport is still active in all states and territories of Australia. The spokesperson further noted that the massive shutdown, including the cancellation or postponement of most major sporting events and leagues on a global scale, customers’ interest has shifted to the ones that are still operational, even if it comes to smaller leagues or non-sporting markets.
- Author
Daniel Williams
