Minorities are at greater risk of harm as a result of gambling according to published findings from prevention helpline and charity GambleAware.
Respondents totalled 1,220 minority and 1,779 white British majority adults over the age of 18, and the study was conducted in conjunction with the University of Manchester and ClearView Research.
The GambleAware report revealed that of the minority participants who responded, 31% admitted to regularly engaging in gambling.
This was significantly lower than the majority British white group, with nearly half of all respondents confirming they bet. Despite this, minority groups reported much higher rates of harm as a result of gambling, with 42% of the 31% who regularly partake saying they have been negatively affected by the associated risks, such as debt or deterioration of mental health.
In addition, those from minority groups were found to be three times more likely to view gambling as a coping mechanism in times of difficulty, with 18% compared to just 6% of white British people.
One of the contributors to the report, the Director of Impact at Clearview, said: “While further research is needed to establish what drives higher burdens of gambling harms in minority communities, these results clearly highlight that members of these communities are facing increased vulnerabilities and are more at risk of suffering from gambling harms.
“Services must be designed with the voice of minority communities centred throughout, and this research helps demonstrate that specific attention and specialised support is needed to effectively address these inequalities.”
The GambleAware report also found that British white people are less likely to report their intention to cut down on their gambling habits, with 14% compared to 28% of minority participants.
Chief executive officer of GambleAware, Zoë Osmond, reiterated the charity’s commitment uncovering the gambling experiences of minority groups. She said: “The higher prevalence of gambling harms amongst minority groups, coupled with the fact they are less likely to access specialist gambling services, is alarming and demonstrates the clear need for further investigation and tailored solutions.
She also went further by adding a need to “break down the barriers to accessing support, and challenge the stigma and discrimination faced by these communities.”
