Blacks and Native Americans are at a higher risk for problem gambling as compared with the rest of the population, a recent study found. Furthermore, social factors and alcohol abuse may show a stronger co-occurrence with gambling involvement among minority groups than among whites. Findings are based on a large representative general population survey (n=3,474) of gambling in the US with an oversample of Native Americans (n=549). Multiple domains were assessed including sociodemographic factors; ecological factors (census-defined neighborhood disadvantage, geocoded density of casinos within 30 miles of respondents’ homes, and perceived gambling convenience); impulsivity; and alcohol abuse. Researchers found:

• After controlling for all variables in the study, neighborhood disadvantage has a significantly greater effect on overall gambling, frequent gambling, and problem gambling for Native Americans than for the rest of the US population.
• In addition, the relationship between frequent gambling and heavier drinking is much stronger for blacks than for the rest of the US population.