Problem Gambling and Wellness: Additional Challenges of Gambling Addiction Treatment

Problem gambling is an issue that anyone can face if they tend to play casino games online. However, when it comes to problem gambling treatment or prevention, things get complicated. The trickiest part is to recognize that the gambler has a problem and people usually tend to deny it for as long as possible.

However, when they finally accept the fact that they are addicted to online gambling and start seeking treatment, they might face another set of problems that were not that obvious in the first place.

There is rather limited evidence indicating that problem gambling occurs more frequently in LGBT+ communities. However, some gambling treatment and support services have anecdotally noted an increased number of individuals from these communities seeking assistance. This fact shows us that certain dynamics are in place.

The press has additionally covered a greater prevalence of gambling issues within the LGBT+ communities, particularly in the UK. Meanwhile, initial studies in the US revealed that the most extreme types of gambling-related harm were seven times higher among gay and bisexual men compared to heterosexual players.

Additionally, research in the USA revealed that gay and bisexual male student-athletes had 3.42 times higher disordered gambling scores than those of heterosexual students. In contrast, gay/lesbian and bisexual women scored 2.57 times higher than heterosexual women.

Interestingly enough, some other studies in Australia revealed that sexual minority men exhibit much lower levels of problem gambling severity compared to heterosexual men, and they indicate notably lower participation, meaning they spend less time playing online casino games and do that less frequently.

A very similar online survey in Sweden showed that sexual minority men more often face problem gambling issues or video gaming addiction issues. However, when it comes to severity of the addiction, the most extreme levels of gambling did not vary between heterosexual and non-heterosexual participants.

Wellbeing Issues That Lead to Problem Gambling

The initial UK Games Industry Census conducted in 2020 revealed that LGBT+ individuals represent 21% of the UK's gaming sector, constituting only 3–7% of the total population. This statistics alone confirms the observation that sexual minority representatives are way more engaged into gambling.

Considering the gambling opportunities such as loot boxes, it implies that LGBT+ communities might be facing concealed levels of gambling-related harms due to their gaming habits. Today, even video games or mobile games for children contain hidden gambling mechanisms, which means players can get addicted to gambling without ever opening an online casino.

To clarify the increased incidence of gambling-related harms potentially affecting LGBT+ communities, observers have pointed to the numerous life stressors the representatives of these communities encounter.

The most widespread stressors include stigma, harassment, discrimination, and both homophobic and heterosexist violence and abuse.

Gambling can provide a way to neutralize these stresses and a method to lessen isolation during a social fun event, yet it may subsequently result in increasing levels of harm.

Data from 2021 indicates that problematic gambling is very often linked to depression, impulsivity, substance and alcohol abuse, and also to being male. LGBT+ communities show not only above-average levels of substance and alcohol consumption but also elevated rates of mental health issues. According to numerous studies, more than a half of LGBT+ individuals faced anxiety, a prevalence three times greater than that of the general population.

Stunningly, one out of every eight trans individuals had attempted suicide in the last year, which is six times the rate of the broader LGBT+ population, and 46% of trans people experienced suicidal thoughts. Over two-thirds of LGBT+ individuals who encountered a hate crime have also faced depression, while over three-quarters dealt with anxiety.

All these stressors make people look for ways to vent and playing with some 150 free spins for $1 as a casino site is one of the most easily accessible ways.

Unaddressed Financial Issues

A further explanation for the higher risks of gambling harms in LGBT+ communities might be the financial stresses. This can vary from needing funds to engage in the lively nightlife of certain LGBT+ areas to young LGBT+ individuals being forced to leave home and lacking the ability to sustain themselves. Appropriate healthcare is usually expensive and ads more stress.

If younger people live with parents and parents do not approve their choices and kick them out, online gambling or generally any type of gambling can, due to lack of experience, seem like easy money. When the person learns that this is far from reality, it is usually too late.

Eventually, the absence of information regarding gambling-related harms within the LGBT+ communities makes it challenging for treatment and support services to address their unique requirements. Some polls discovered that one in eight patients faced unfair treatment from healthcare workers due to their sexual or gender identity, while almost one in four observed anti-LGBT+ remarks from these professionals.

Extra stressors and unique needs prevent the representatives of the community from getting timely treatment because they avoid even more stress. Individuals from the LGBT+ community might hesitate to seek assistance due to their unfavorable experiences when pursuing treatment and support from various services, including healthcare.

Individuals from the LGBT+ community might struggle in a peer group setting if they are not prepared to disclose their sexual orientation and examine how it connects to their gambling habits.