Charity invites proposals for problem gaming research in minorities

GambleAware has invited proposals for two research programmes focusing on problem gaming among women and minority communities. 

UK.- The responsible gambling charity GambleAware has invited proposals for two separate research programmes investigating the consequence of problem gambling among women and among minority communities.

The charity is inviting bids from multidisciplinary teams, including academic institutions and research agencies. It is offering £250,000 in funding for each programme.

It said that the results of the research will influence its commissioning practices in the future.

GambleAware’s first Treatment Needs and Gap Analysis report last year found that women were three times more likely than men to mention practical barriers as reasons for not accessing problem gambling treatment or support.

It also found that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities had a higher rate of problem gambling classification despite being less likely to gamble. 

GambleAware said: “In Great Britain, there is limited research available on gambling and the lived experience of minority communities and women. 

“However, existing evidence suggests the burdens of gambling harms are higher amongst minority ethnic communities and that these communities are less likely to access specialist gambling services compared with white communities.

“There is also evidence that indicates participation in gambling and the rate of women who experience gambling disorder is increasing more quickly than amongst men, but reasons for this are unclear.”

Last week, GambleAware called for a mandatory levy on gambling operators in the UK to fund research, education and treatment of gambling-related harm. It made the proposal in its response to the UK government’s consultation for its review of gambling legislation. 

YGAM also called for a mandatory levy to be introduced in its submission to the consultation.