A descriptive study of gambling practices and problem gambling among internal migrants in Muse, Northern Shan, Myanmar

Due to rapid economic growth in China, many gambling sites have emerged along the neighboring countries, including Myanmar, which place migrants at risk of developing gambling problems. This study aimed at identifying: i) types of gambling, ii) gambling involvement and intensity, and iii) the associations with problem gambling. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Muse, Myanmar. A convenience sample of 273 internal migrants (18–49 years) filled a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression explored associations between gambling practices and problem gambling. Among the categories of gambling, the popular gambling types were lottery games (Aung Bar Lay, Thone-Lone and Nhit-Lone) and card games, as well as the use of Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs). An average number of past-year gambling types involved and of gambling types engaged in regularly were 1.61 (SD=0.95) and 1.22 (SD=0.70), respectively. In association with PG, Nhit-Lone, EGMs, cards, and dice games were strongly associated among the gambling types. Those with PG had a higher number of involvement by past-year gambling types (1.92 vs. 1.18 for no PG) and spent 5 times higher amount of money on gambling. In conclusion, this study showed that types of gambling, such as Nhit-Lone, cards and dice games and higher involvement and intensity were associated with problem gambling. The findings provide new and important insights into gambling behavior among internal migrant workers in the border area with China and highlight the need for culturally specific preventive measures for the Myanmar population, with preference to gambling types.