A recent study funded by the GambleAware charity highlights how marginalized communities in the UK use gambling to cope with social exclusion and loneliness. The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) analyzed 138 previous studies to explore how socially excluded groups are affected by gambling for the new report.
The research examined several groups, including people at risk of homelessness, older individuals, those living with disabilities or mental health challenges, criminalized communities, and vulnerable migrants such as asylum seekers. Despite the diversity of these groups, a common theme emerged: many individuals use gambling to deal with life’s difficulties stemming from social exclusion or discrimination.
These difficulties include loneliness, mental health challenges, migration stress, unemployment, job insecurity, and poverty. For some, gambling serves as a distraction, while others see it as a potential way to escape poverty.
The study also found that gambling venues are disproportionately located in deprived areas of Great Britain. Marginalized and socially excluded individuals, who are more likely to reside in these areas, encounter gambling opportunities more frequently due to their socioeconomic circumstances.
Stigma related to drug use, homelessness, and mental health issues further compounds the challenges faced by these communities. This stigma not only intersects with the stigma of gambling harms but also influences whether individuals seek support and treatment. GambleAware’s campaigns seek to reduce this stigma, encouraging more people to come forward for help.
GambleAware has been proactive in addressing these issues, the charity said. As part of this effort, GambleAware launched the Improving Outcomes for Women and Minority Communities Affected by Gambling Harm program, investing over £4 million in 25 organizations across Great Britain.
For example, the Investing in People and Culture organization is using the funds to address gambling harms among ethnically diverse refugee and migrant communities in Tyne and Wear, while the Flowhesion Foundation is supporting Pashtoon-speaking women in North West England experiencing gambling harms.
Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, emphasized the need for greater engagement with these communities to raise awareness about the risks of gambling harm. “Service providers need to ensure they can appropriately meet the needs of people in different circumstances,” she said. “This is why we launched our Improving Outcomes Fund, to support organizations that are running programs to help people from different communities.”
The report recommends making gambling treatment services more accessible, inclusive, and adaptive to meet the diverse needs of marginalized communities. Further research is also needed to better understand the specific gambling harms experienced by these communities.
Dr. Sokratis Dinos from NatCen’s Centre for Gambling Research highlighted the importance of the study, noting that the report critically appraises existing evidence on gambling harms among marginalized communities in Great Britain. “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 said.
Natalie, who experienced gambling harm and homelessness, stressed the importance of stable housing for recovery in a GambleAware press statement. “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,” she said. “We need improved ease of access for accommodation and support, and to ensure sufficient housing options are available for people experiencing disadvantage from addiction.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/08/06/74484-uk-new-study-reveals-gambling-as-a-coping-mechanism-for-marginalized-communities
