BAME female gamblers are 'high risk' of suffering from gambling harm
Recent research by gambling industry charity GambleAware says 35 per cent of female gamblers who experienced high levels of harm come from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
The research has found that BAME women in Britain are overrepresented among those classed as 'high risk' to suffering as a result of gambling.
The data collection, conducted by YouGov, shows 35 per cent of female gamblers who experienced high levels of harm score 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
The pattern is mirrored in male BAME gamblers, with 29 per cent sitting at the top of the male problem gambling index.
Making the statistics so shocking, the BAME community represents just 13 per cent of the population.
The poll of around 7,500 women in England, Scotland and Wales found that BAME women are also more likely to experience harm as a result of someone else's gambling.
The study also revealed that females are more detrimentally impacted by the gambling a close family member than men. Of the 8 per cent of women fitting into this "affected other" category, 16 per cent are from BAME background.
A statement made by Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said: "This research indicates that women, particularly in the capacity as an affected other, experience gaming harms in different ways to men and this report is an important first step in understanding those differences".
Shining a light on the reasons behind the disproportionate impacts on women, especially of colour, compared to men, the study discovered that a key factor affecting female gamblers is not reaching out for help or seeking out treatment for problem gambling, particularly due to the stigma attached to gambling addiction.
Two in five women (39 per cent) said feelings of 'embarrassment' and 'fear' of people finding out were barriers that prevented them from getting help.
More positively, the report has "highlighted not only the challenges that need to be overcome but also the opportunities available to service providers to help increase take-up of treatment and support to help reduce and prevent harms among women", according to Anna Hemmings, chief executive of GamCare, a problem gambling funding body.
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