Severity of risks for LGBTQIA+ communities highlights need for intersectional approach to gambling treatment

A comparative study involving nearly 1,500 people with intersecting marginalised identities, all of whom gambled regularly, has revealed a stark need for tailored service provision. Following researchers’ and participants’ calls for greater representation, policymakers and addiction charities in the UK and New Zealand have been alerted to the importance of inclusivity when providing treatment and support.

Prior to this study led by Bournemouth University, little was known about the challenges with accessing gambling support faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. This, despite evidence that LGBTQIA+ individuals are more susceptible to disproportionately high rates of gambling harms. 

Coupled with the fact that they encounter higher rates of adverse mental, behavioural, and physical health outcomes compared to the general population, this latest study sought to identify and redress the gaps in equitable and culturally competent treatment.

Centring lived experience

This comparative study comprised two online surveys: one involving 1,444 LGBTQIA+ individuals and a second, with 1,472 non-LGBTQIA+ individuals. All participants reported gambling at least once a month. Additional interviews were conducted with 31 LGBTQIA+ individuals who gamble at least once a month, and seven LGBTQIA+ individuals who received residential treatment for gambling-related harms.

Principal Investigator Dr Reece Bush-Evans was inspired to conduct the study partly owing to his own experience being affected by someone else’s gambling. “This research has been incredibly rewarding to conduct,” said Dr Bush-Evans who has since shared his insights with several organisations holding their first Pride festivals. “It’s been overwhelming to see the amount of interest garnered and the impactful change being made.”

Key findings

  • LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to engage in gambling as a coping mechanism in response to life stressors linked to identity, stigma, and discrimination.
  • Participants reported significantly higher levels of emotional distress, including shame, guilt, and anguish related to gambling
    Relational, legal, and health problems were more prevalent.
  • 82 transgender participants reported the highest levels of depression and lowest levels of social support and quality of life.
  • 200 ethnic minority LGBTQIA+ individuals experienced intersecting forms of marginalisation, including racism, homophobia, and transphobia, which increased gambling risks.
  • Participants said they were reluctant to seek help because they feared services were designed for cisgender, heterosexual men and would not be inclusive of their needs.
  • Access to social support, which people said could potentially have helped them, was notably inconsistent.

Prioritising inclusivity 

Policymakers, UK Parliamentarians, addiction services, lived experience networks, non-profit organisations, industry bodies, regulators and funding bodies have all expressed interest in the findings.

A number of positive practical changes have been inspired by the research. Pride events have begun offering targeted organisational support to LGBTQIA+ individuals; Pride logos now feature on several gambling-related support websites alongside tailored information; and a City and Guilds certified course on LGBTQIA+ wellbeing and gambling has been developed in collaboration with the Ygam, the UK’s leading youth charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms.

A more inclusive approach has been adopted by treatment organisations such as Gordon Moody and Ara Recovery for All, who have begun monitoring the participation of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Gordon Moody has gone one step further in exploring a dedicated transgender gambling support service.

Through word of mouth, the research recommendations reached New Zealand, leading Dr Bush-Evans to be invited as a keynote presenter at the International Gambling Conference in 2024, where he was able to discuss culturally sensitive “rainbow” initiatives with individuals working with Māori communities affected by gambling harms. He was also invited as a consultant on the 2025 review of New Zealand's gambling legislation.

Next steps

Dr Bush-Evans has applied for a UKRI Research Council grant to explore the role of intersectionality and gambling-related motivations and harms in more detail, saying: “As the greatest levels of harm identified were found among the transgender and ethnic minority communities, I would like to explore social determinants of harm and systematic access/barriers to support among these populations in more depth.”

Partners:

  • Research advisory board comprising people with lived experience of gambling harms
  • Gordon Moody

Investigators:

Image credit: Bournemouth University