Gambling Disorder in Minority Ethnic Groups

BACKGROUND: Although the data on racial/ethnic associations with gambling disorder are limited, studies suggest that ethnicity may have associations with both symptom severity and psychosocial impairment linked to gambling disorder. Based on the current literature, we hypothesized that there would be a difference in gambling symptom severity, and co-occurring disorders, as a function of racial-ethnic group. METHODS: 475 adults (mean age = 47.6 (± 11.6) years; 54.3% females) with gambling disorder who had participated in clinical trials on pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy were included. Participants were assessed for gambling severity, comorbidities, health issues, quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Participants who self-identified as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) were compared to those who self-identified as white Caucasian (non-BAME). RESULTS: The BAME group had significantly earlier age of gambling problems (and age at first gambling), and higher levels of disability. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of current gambling disorder symptom severity, previous suicide attempt(s), quality of life, percent of salary in past year lost to gambling, or likelihood of having received treatment for gambling disorder in the past, nor in terms of having used Gamblers Anonymous. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that having gambling disorder and being from a minority racial-ethnic group was associated with significantly earlier age at first gambling, earlier age of gambling becoming problematic, and higher levels of disability, in clinical trial settings. Future work should further examine differences in the clinical features of gambling disorder in different minority groups in larger sample sizes, ideally also longitudinally, across a range of settings. Identification of the reasons/mechanisms for differences in age of onset and levels of disability may lead to new public health and treatment targets to minimize gambling harms.