The British gambling charity organisation GambleAware released its latest study, which has found that minority ethnic groups are usually the ones who are disproportionately affected by gambling-related harm. These are also the people who normally have a higher demand for treatment and support.
The research was carried out by YouGov last year. Now, the study’s results have shown that 20% of Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic adults face gambling-related harm. In comparison, 12% of white adults experience problems associated with their gambling.
Furthermore, the survey also found that 7% of adult gamblers originating from minority ethnic communities are categorised as gambling addicts, while only 2% of the white adults are classed as problem gamblers.
Also, 75% of individuals over 18 years of age originating from minority ethnic communities confessed they wanted professional advice and treatment for their compulsive gambling behaviour. The percentage rate is considerably smaller when it comes to white problem gamblers – less than half of the ones participating in the survey (49% to be exact) said they wanted to get professional treatment.
As explained by GambleAware‘s survey, a quarter of the people who took part in the research (25%) knew they could get professional advice about their problem gambling over the phone, while 18% of them were aware of the fact such advice is strictly confidential and they would not have to pay anything for it.
GambleAware Remains Devoted to Creating Suitable Treatment for Gambling Addiction
Apart from the survey called “Disproportionate Burdens of Gambling harms Amongst Minority Communities”, GambleAware has also published its review of the international evidence base, in an attempt to put the drivers of higher levels of gambling-related harm in minority communities across the UK into the spotlight. The gambling charity organisation is also aimed at working to develop a suitable treatment for problem gambling that takes into account each gambling addict’s needs.
The chief executive officer of GambleAware, Marc Etches, has explained that the prevalence of high levels of gambling-related harm among so-called minority ethnic communities on one hand, and the great demand for access to advice, support and treatment of problem gambling behaviour, on the other hand, highlights the obvious need for improved and enhanced regulation of the sector.
Furthermore, Mr Etches said that advice and treatment services must not only be flexible but must also be easily accessible for all minority groups. In addition, they have to meet the individual needs of each problem gambler because every gambling addict is different and so are their needs for treatment. GambleAware‘s boss also shared that this process will require both gambling charity organisations and regulators to remain actively engaged with communities in order to better understand their experiences and then design consultation and treatment services in line with these experiences.
GambleAware‘s CEO explained that the charity will depend on the reports’ findings in order to attract additional investment in problem gambling support and treatment services and iron out the inequalities between different communities.
- Author
Olivia Cole
