New GambleAware study covers racism and gambling harms

Added: December 7, 2023

A new study commissioned by GambleAware looked at the ties between racism and various gambling harms.

The gambling charity’s latest report examined the problem gambling experiences of people from various minority groups in the UK, which found that they had a 50% higher likelihood of having been discriminated against in public than their peers who have no issues relating to the pastime. The study also found that the use of gambling as a way of coping with difficulties in life was three times more prominent among them than people from majority communities.

The report then highlighted that the study’s participants identified many factors stopping them from seeking support for their problematic behaviors, with some of the reasons relating to their minority backgrounds. The study found that people from these backgrounds were less likely to feel comfortable discussing their issues with friends, family, and treatment providers. Some of the study’s participants even reported having experienced racism from a support service, further diminishing their trust in such organizations.

Following the publication of these findings, the charity will be launching a new funding initiative this month intending to eliminate the differences in the experience of having gambling problems among people of minority and majority backgrounds. GambleAware will allocate more than 4 million pounds to the new program, with gambling organizations across Wales, Scotland, and England being eligible to receive grants.

BeGambleAware