Treating the African American Gambling Client

1
Treating the African American Gambling Client

• A literature review
• and study of 59 Gambling Clients by
• Hubert Evans, CADC I, CGAC II
• and Eric Martin, M.A., CADC III

2
Epidemiology of Gambling

• Several studies have found that being black
  and/or non-Caucasian, is a risk factor for
  gambling and that there are higher rates of
  gambling within African American communities
  (problem gamblers vs. non-problem gamblers)
• Many of these findings have been challenged due
  to the fact that lower socioeconomic status is
  also a risk factor - and African Americans are
  over-represented in the lower socioeconomic
  strata.
• Which leads to the question, Is it really
  blackness or poorness that is correlated with
  problem gambling?

Grant, Kushner and Kim, 2002
3
African American Poverty

• The mindset of Gambling Poverty
• (Hubert will fill this out after attending
  poverty training with Dr. Donna Beagle)

4
African Americans and Treatment Admission

• Minorities tend to perceive delayed admission as
  a form of rejection.
• Minorities have a history of being abused by
  bureaucracy and red tape. Complex rules,
  documents, etc. have historically been used to
  exploit African Americans. African Americans are
  turned-off by red-tape.
• Research shows that delayed admission produces
  poorer outcomes in minorities compared to
  Caucasian clients in behavioral health and
  medical care services.

5
Preferred gamesCaucasians vs. African
AmericansA study of 59 Gambling Clients, H.
Evans, CGAC II

• Caucasians prefer video poker almost 21 over
  African Americans
• African Americans prefer Dominos about 51 over
  Caucasians
• Caucasians play scratch tickets with African
  Americans do not.
• African Americans play dice while Caucasians do
  not.

6
Average Age of Onset of GamblingCaucasians vs.
African AmericansA study of 59 Gambling Clients,
H. Evans, CGAC II
7
Sex of Gambling Tx ParticipantsCaucasians vs.
African AmericansA study of 59 Gambling Clients,
H. Evans, CGAC II
8
Source of Gambling FundsCaucasians vs. African
AmericansA study of 59 Gambling Clients, H.
Evans, CGAC II

• What are the implications for family treatment?
• African American relationships tend to be more
  enabling.
• Caucasian spouses/partners may be oblivious to
  their partners gambling.