Problem gambling among ethnic minorities: results from an epidemiological study

Abstract

A few studies have examined gambling behavior and problem gambling among minorities and reported higher rates of both participation and gambling problems among particular minority groups in comparison to Whites who gamble. The present study utilized a representative, epidemiological sample of adults in New Jersey to explore gambling behavior, gambling problem severity, substance use, problem behavior, and mental health issues among minorities. Univariate analyses were conducted, comparing Whites (n = 1341) to respondents who identified as Hispanic (n = 394), Black (n = 261), or Asian/other (n = 177). Overall, the highest proportion of Hispanics were high-risk problem gamblers. Hispanic participants were also significantly more likely than other groups to use and abuse substances and to report mental health problems in the past month, behavioral addictions, and/or suicidal ideation in the past year. Primary predictors of White high risk problem gamblers were being young and male with friends or family who gambled, fair to poor health status, substance use, gambling once a week or more both online and in land-based venues, and engaging in a number of gambling activities. In contrast, gender was not a predictor of minority high risk problem gamblers, who were characterized primarily by having friends or family who gambled, gambling online only, having a behavioral addiction and playing instant scratch-offs and gaming machines. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Gambling habits, gambling norms, and problem gambling in foreign born and native populations in Denmark — A general population survey

“…The present findings of an overrepresentation of problem gambling in foreign born individuals are in line with the findings in previous studies ( Alegría et al, 2009 ; Caler et al, 2017 ; Lyk-Jensen, 2010 ; Okuda et al, 2016 ; Welte et al, 2004 ). The link between foreign origin and problem gambling may have several explanations.…”

“…Studies have shown that being foreign born and belonging to an ethnic minority may constitute a risk factor for problem gambling ( Alegría et al, 2009 ; Caler, Vargas Garcia, & Nower, 2017 ; Canale et al, 2017 ; Giralt et al, 2018 ; James, O'Malley, & Tunney, 2016 ; Lyk-Jensen, 2010 ; Okuda et al, 2016 ; Welte et al, 2004 ; Wilson, Salas-Wright, Vaughn, & Maynard, 2015 ). However, authors have suggested that ethnicity may not be a risk factor in itself, but associated risk factors are likely to mediate the increased risk ( Kastirke, Rumpf, John, Bischof, & Meyer, 2015 ; Okuda et al, 2016 ), and this includes the finding that immigrants may present a more severe gambling pattern, compared to natives ( Eva et al, 2012 ).…”

Gambling Dual Disorder: A Dual Disorder and Clinical Neuroscience Perspective

“…Nevertheless, the lack of nationwide studies with representative samples made it difficult to directly compare prevalence rates. The prevalence rates also show ethnic differences, with rates more elevated in the Black population than other ethnics groups in the US ( 21 , 22 ). A large National Epidemiologic Survey in the US found a higher rate of GD among Black (2.2%) and Native/Asian Americans (2.3%) compared with whites (1.2%) ( 23 ).…”

Longitudinal Assessment of a Manualized Group Treatment Program for Gambling Disorder: The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders

“…Third, while our sample was comprised of a nearly-even split between males and females, it skewed heavily toward white individuals. In Ohio, Black or African American individuals have the highest rates of GD (Ohio for Responsible Gambling, 2017), and given that multiple studies have suggested racial and ethnic minorities have higher rates of GD than white individuals (Barry et al, 2011a(Barry et al, , 2011bCaler et al, 2017), any future evaluation of the OhPGTM should seek to obtain a more racially diverse sample of participants. Lastly, while the OhPGTM was designed for individuals with cooccurring disorder and featured therapeutic methods and approaches commonly used in mental and behavioral health, the evaluation materials did not include measures of change related to co-occurring disorders; though the OhioMHAS expansion of the project intends to include these measures, these data are not available for the present study.…”