Beyond the minority: Problem gambling among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California

Problem gambling among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities remains a silent and under-recognized issue in California. Gambling is not new to AAPIs, but rather an inveterate social activity found in many Asian and Pacific Island countries and AAPI ethnic enclaves in California.(1) Recent media reports detail the increasing number of AAPI individuals who patron casinos and other gambling venues in California.(2) Casinos epitomize the culturally competent framework outlined by most health and social service agencies by tailoring its amenities to AAPIs, hiring AAPIs as casino dealers and hosts, and offering AAPI cultural delicacies and entertainment. While most people can gamble responsibly, there are others that gamble to a point where it leads to debilitating problems that can result in harm to themselves, people close to them and to the wider community.(3) Problem gambling is defined as “gambling that significantly interferes with a person's basic occupational, interpersonal, and financial functioning.”(4) Data on AAPI problem gambling varies from 3% in the 2006 California Prevalence Survey to 59% in a community sample of Southeast Asians.(5) The UCLA Gambling Studies Program conducted an exploratory study on AAPI problem gambling in Los Angeles in 2006. A total of 250 surveys were collected from clients at an AAPI community-based organization. This presentation will cover study findings and highlight steps for prevention and intervention for AAPIs. With the rising number of AAPIs gambling, problem gambling is no longer an issue of the AAPI minority, but an emerging issue for the majority.