This report outlines a study of gambling among Chinese, South Asian, and Indigenous communities. It focuses on communities on Ontario, Canada. The study uses data from a longitudinal study. Data was collected from April 2020 to December 2020, focusing on gambling behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that persons from these communities were more likely to experience problem gambling and harms. The aim of the study was to provide recommendations to support the creation of prevention programs. It identifies insights relevant to gambling prevention among minority communities. Key insights include:
- Gambling is important in Chinese culture as a social activity.
- People of South Asian descent are more likely to gamble and be affected by a family member's gambling. Barriers to treatment among the community include stigma.
- Indigenous People in Ontario increased their spending on gambling during the pandemic. Perceived barriers to treatment included not wanting to be judged.
Recommendations from the report include:
- Tailor messages to acknowledge cultural beliefs and values while promoting safer gambling.
- Develop materials in preferred languages.
- Expand prevention and education programs to target family members.
- Promote the availability of resources, including anonymous treatment programs.
