Racial and Ethnic Differences in Problem Gambling among College Students

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• College students are at high risk for developing problematic gambling behaviors.
• Existing research on racial and ethnic differences in gambling is limited and inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate racial and ethnic disparities in problem gambling among a large sample of undergraduate students.
• To identify specific gambling behaviors and indicators prevalent in different racial and ethnic groups within a university setting.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 3,058 undergraduates completed an online survey.
• Data collected included demographics, gambling frequency, expenditure, and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS).
• Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine group differences.

Main Results:

• Asian students gambled less frequently but spent more money than Caucasian or Hispanic/Latino(a) students.
• A significantly higher proportion of Asian students met criteria for probable pathological gambling (7.8%) and at-risk gambling (16.3%) compared to other groups.
• Asian students endorsed more problematic gambling indicators, including guilt, lying about losses, and experiencing interpersonal conflict related to gambling.

Conclusions:

• Asian college students represent a high-risk subgroup for problem gambling.
• There is a critical need for culturally sensitive and targeted interventions for Asian college students experiencing gambling issues.
• Further research should explore the underlying factors contributing to these disparities.