A recent study funded by GambleAware has shed light on the troubling trend of marginalized and socially excluded communities in the UK using gambling as a means to cope with their difficult circumstances and loneliness. Conducted by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), the analysis reviewed 138 previous studies to understand the impact of gambling on these vulnerable groups.
The study focused on several groups, including those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, older individuals, people living with disabilities, neurodiversity or mental health challenges, criminalized communities, and migrants in vulnerable situations like asylum seekers. Despite their varied backgrounds, these groups share a common thread: the use of gambling to alleviate stressors caused by social exclusion and discrimination.
Underlying Issues and Coping Mechanisms
The research highlighted that individuals from these marginalized communities often turn to gambling to escape from issues such as loneliness, mental health struggles, stress from migration and assimilation, unemployment, job insecurity, and poverty. Gambling was perceived as a temporary distraction or a potential way to escape financial hardships.
Another significant finding was the disproportionate number of gambling venues located in deprived areas of Great Britain. People from marginalized and isolated communities are more likely to reside in these areas due to socioeconomic disenfranchisement, thus increasing their exposure to gambling opportunities.
Stigma emerged as a crucial factor affecting these communities’ gambling behaviors and their willingness to seek support. Many already face stigma related to drug use, homelessness, or mental health issues, which intersects with the stigma associated with gambling harms. This compounded stigma often prevents individuals from seeking necessary help.
Calls for Accessible and Inclusive Treatment Services
The report calls for gambling treatment services to be more accessible, inclusive, and adaptive to meet the needs of marginalized communities. It also emphasizes the need for further research to understand the specific gambling harms experienced by these groups better and to develop effective support mechanisms.
GambleAware has been proactive in addressing these issues, launching initiatives like the “Improving Outcomes for Women and Minority Communities Affected by Gambling Harm” fund. This £4 million program supports 25 organizations across Great Britain, such as Investing in People and Culture and the Flowhesion Foundation, to help ethnically diverse and vulnerable communities tackle gambling harms.
Natalie, an individual who has experienced gambling harm and homelessness, highlighted the challenges faced by those without stable housing. “To break free from gambling harm, you need to have a safe place to live. If you don’t have shelter, it makes trying to recover so much harder, and it can be difficult to access support without a permanent address. We need improved ease of access for accommodation and support, and to ensure sufficient housing options are available for people experiencing disadvantage from addiction.”
Expert Insights
Dr. Sokratis Dinos from NatCen’s Centre for Gambling Research emphasized the findings’ significance: “The results show how vulnerability to gambling harms for some people in these communities will be driven by compounding inequalities, stigma, exclusion, and discrimination.” He added that the report critically appraises existing evidence on gambling harms among marginalized communities, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and further research.
Sources:
New study finds that socially excluded communities use gambling to cope with discrimination, loneliness and other problems, gambleaware.org, July 30, 2024.