A recent study funded by the GambleAware charity sheds light on how marginalized communities in the UK use gambling as a coping mechanism for social exclusion and loneliness. The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) analyzed 138 previous studies to investigate how socially excluded groups are impacted by gambling.
The research focused on several groups, including individuals at risk of homelessness, older adults, people living with disabilities or mental health challenges, criminalized communities, and vulnerable migrants such as asylum seekers. Despite the diversity of these groups, a common thread emerged: many individuals resort to gambling to cope with life’s hardships stemming from social exclusion or discrimination.
These hardships encompass loneliness, mental health issues, migration stress, unemployment, job insecurity, and poverty. For some, gambling acts as a distraction, while others view it as a potential escape from poverty.
The location factor
The study also revealed that gambling venues are disproportionately situated in deprived areas of Great Britain. Marginalized and socially excluded individuals, who are more likely to live in these areas, encounter gambling opportunities more frequently due to their socioeconomic conditions.
The stigma associated with drug use, homelessness, and mental health problems exacerbates the challenges faced by these communities. This stigma not only overlaps with the stigma of gambling harm but also affects whether individuals seek support and treatment. GambleAware’s campaigns aim to reduce this stigma, encouraging more people to seek help.
GambleAware has been actively addressing these issues. The charity 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 these funds to address gambling harm among ethnically diverse refugee and migrant communities in Tyne and Wear, while the Flowhesion Foundation supports Pashtoon-speaking women in North West England experiencing gambling harm.
Comments from Chief Executive of GambleAware
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 adaptable to meet the diverse needs of marginalized communities. Further research is also necessary to better understand the specific gambling harms experienced by these communities.
Dr. Sokratis Dinos from NatCen’s Centre for Gambling Research highlighted the significance of the study, noting that the report critically evaluates existing evidence on gambling harm 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 access to accommodation and support, and to ensure sufficient housing options are available for people experiencing disadvantage from addiction.”
