A Norwegian wagering firm, Norsk Tipping, asserts that the temporary halt of particular forms of gaming during the Covid-19 crisis resulted in a decline in hazardous conduct among bettors. However, normalcy swiftly resumed as games went back online.
The study is separated into two periods, spanning from March to May and May to July. It utilizes Norsk Tipping’s categorization of player behaviors, ranging from green (low risk) and yellow (medium risk) to red (high risk).
Following Norway’s implementation of confinement measures to curb the pandemic, the operator expressed concern that vulnerable players might face heightened risk during such a drastic shift and uncertain period.
In general, it’s evident that lotteries continue to dominate the gambling market. In March, turnover saw an increase, coinciding with the customary annual surge during Easter, when more promotions and draws were offered. Furthermore, larger-than-usual jackpots attracted an above-average number of participants.
Norsk Tipping considers the lottery’s dominance a positive development. They hope that customers will opt for this lower-risk game over the higher-risk alternatives of sports betting and casinos.
The unexpected emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the temporary halt of athletic leagues and contests, leaving sports betting fans without a method to wager on significant sporting events almost instantly. The majority of bettors completely ceased betting during this period.
The Norwegian lottery organization stated they were hesitant to actively motivate sports bettors to participate in other games deemed high-risk, such as casino games.
Betting on esports and Belarusian soccer lacked allure for those who typically wager on football and ice hockey. Although some sports bettors who were also interested in casinos did switch, many simply vanished entirely from gaming while sports were suspended.
Online bingo games did not experience any significant alterations in the initial stages, accompanied by a slight increase in digital scratch cards and online casinos. The number of players in these sectors increased, but this growth was considered no more than the consistent growth pattern of online casinos in recent years. This growth certainly could not compensate for the loss of sports betting and land-based slot machine players.
The land-based sector endured prolonged closures, particularly the Multix and Belago gaming terminals in Norway, which were the favored choice for the operator’s most loyal customer base.
Numerous customers gambled across multiple sectors, but a small portion of customers only gambled at physical terminals.
It is still uncertain if Norwegian players will ultimately switch to online slot products, but they didn’t begin doing so until three months later.
In the initial stage (March to May), the first change in risk levels was a substantial reduction. This was primarily due to the closure of Multix and Belago gaming terminals, as many players on these terminals were categorized as being in the “red” high-risk group.
With the absence of sports betting, most gamblers vanished completely during this stage.
In the second phase, by July, data indicated that gaming patterns started to revert to pre-lockdown levels as things began to stabilize.
Multix and Belago players’ gaming levels were close to pre-lockdown levels, although social distancing requirements meant that not all machines were operational.
As sports betting returned, players followed suit, and betting patterns returned to pre-lockdown levels. During this period, there was an increase in the number of “red” players, coinciding with the simultaneous holding of the Norwegian Elite Series and the Premier League. This later declined.
Online casinos also witnessed an increase in the number of “red” players in July, which then decreased again. Increased disposable income was considered a potential explanation for this phenomenon, consistent with player feedback.
Although the overall count of “red” participants initially decreased when the lockdown began, it has since rebounded to its pre-lockdown levels. This doesn’t necessarily indicate that individual or collective risk-taking behavior has escalated during the lockdown.
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