Influence of bingo halls temporary closure due to Covid-19 on gamblers' reported perceptions and behaviours

ABSTRACT

Background: In 2020, the Covid forced the shutdown of Bingo halls for a few months in the province of Quebec, Canada. This communication describes some changes it had on the clientele of bingo players, comprised mainly of women who were retired. Method: A longitudinal design served to examine reported behaviours and perceptions of Bingo players on different variables including Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores, consequences on different life aspects, internet gambling activity and money spent on other forms of gambling than bingo. Graduate students conducted phone interviews on two occasions (1) during the summer of 2019 and (2) during the summer of 2020, three months after the bingo halls closure (n = 211). Results: At follow-up, as compared to pre-closure, bingo players were less numerous in proportion to report moderate to high risks of problem gambling and more numerous to gamble on the Internet. At both measures, the majority of players did not report negative consequences on most aspects of their life. There was no difference between measures on weekly money spent on other gambling activities than bingo. Conclusion: Based on this longitudinal study, gambling characteristics reported by Quebec participants playing in bingo sites were different after bingo halls closure. A discussion will explore the important links between money spent in bingo halls and the CPGI categorisation of bingo player. The discussion will also identify study limitations.