Online gambling and associated health risk factors among East Asians and South Asians in Canada during COVID-19

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Author(s): Price, Alex

Journal: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: July 13, 2022

This study explored online gambling during COVID-19 among East and South Asians living in Ontario, Canada. It also explored a variety of risk factors that represent health inequities. An online survey was carried out in August 2020. Of the 2,012 participants, 206 were East Asians (10.2%) and 107 were South Asians (5.3%). The researcher found that East and South Asians were more likely to experience problem gambling. East and South Asians were more likely to gamble online to earn income and to gamble under the influence of alcohol during COVID-19. East and South Asians also had higher rates of mental health problems (e.g., anxiety). A substantial number of participants reported negative impacts from COVID-19 on household income and employment.

Citation: Price, A. (2022). Health inequities among East and South Asian gamblers during COVID‑19: Key risk factors and comorbidities. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00767-4

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00767-4

Keywords: alcohol use ; comorbidities ; COVID-19 ; ethno-cultural ; health ; inequality ; mental health ; minorities ; online gambling ; risk factors ; South Asian ; Southeast Asian

Topics: Comorbidities ; Cultural Factors ; Gambling and the Brain ; Online Gambling ; Substance Use ; Traditions

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Cultural Factors ; Gambling Environment ; Environment - Public Policy ; Gambling Exposure ; Cultural - Ethnicity and Traditions

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Ontario

Study Population: Adults who resided in Ontario and had gambled at least once in the last 12 months (N = 2,012). The sample included subsamples of East Asians (n = 206) and South Asians (n = 107). East Asians were those who self-identified as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, or Mongolian. South Asians were those who self-identified as East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Afghani, Nepali, Bhutanese, Bangladeshi, or Maldivian.

Sampling Procedure: Recruitment was provided by Delvinia, an online survey provider based in Toronto, Ontario. The sample was drawn from the vendor’s AskingCanadians panel population of over one million Canadians. Participants were directed to an online Qualtrics survey that was developed and administered by the research team.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by a COVID-19 Rapid Response Research Grant awarded by Carleton University.