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Crisis, What Crisis? The Effect of Economic Crises on Spending on Online and Offline Gambling in Spain: Implications for Preventing Gambling Disorder

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  • Mariano Chóliz

    (Gambling and Technological Addictions Research Unit, Psychology School, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

(1) Background: In the period between 2008 and 2020, the world experienced two global economic crises that affected people’s way of life and well-being: the financial crisis of 2008 and that precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the crises’ radically different causes, their consequences for economic activity have been equally dramatic; (2) Methods: This article analyzes the consequences of both crises on gambling spending in Spain and compares traditional (offline) games with more recent online offerings. The data were collected from databases maintained by the Spanish government and gambling companies; (3) Results: The paper offers two main conclusions. The first is that, while traditional (offline) gambling has been significantly affected by economic crises, online gambling has exhibited consistent growth since its legalization. The second is that the measures implemented to resolve the two economic crises differed significantly and thus had different impacts on spending on the various types of gambling; (4) Conclusions: The key conclusion is that purchasing power (measured in terms of GDP) can only explain spending on less addictive gambling games, such as lotteries. However, the availability and accessibility of games are both directly related to spending on games of all types.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariano Chóliz, 2023. "Crisis, What Crisis? The Effect of Economic Crises on Spending on Online and Offline Gambling in Spain: Implications for Preventing Gambling Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2909-:d:1060726
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Eakins, 2016. "Household gambling expenditures and the Irish recession," International Gambling Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 211-230, August.
    2. Robert J. Williams & Robert T. Wood, 2007. "The Proportion of Ontario Gambling Revenue Derived from Problem Gamblers," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 33(3), pages 367-388, September.
    3. Sara Capacci & Emanuela Randon & Antonello Eugenio Scorcu, 2017. "Are Consumers More Willing to Invest in Luck During Recessions?," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 3(1), pages 25-38, March.
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