At this year's 'Born Free' Pride Festival in Bournemouth, Dr. Reese Bush-Evans, a lecturer in psychology who represents Bournemouth University, discussed research on the impact of gambling on LGBTQ+ communities and why people in those communities can turn to gambling.
Dr. Bush-Evans took the stand with partners from charities such as Ygam and Gordon Moody Association who work to prevent gambling damage. The association provides advice and support to people with gambling addiction.
The early findings of his study suggested that gambling can be used as a coping mechanism for some people, and that others in the community can use it as a means to conceal their sexual tastes. The study also revealed that some LGBTQ+ people who gamble online do so because they feel that physical premises can be a threatening environment for them.
Dr. Bush-Evans said at the festival. "Gambling is enjoyed very safely by many people. However, there are a significant number of individuals, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, who may be exposed to gambling damage.
"So we're here to talk about the community and their gambling experience and see if there's any problem we can help." Some of the interviews conducted as part of the study explored why some people in the LGBTQ+ community can gamble. The reasons for being considered are as mentioned by Dr. Bush-Evans:
"For example, life stressors experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals, such as bullying, discrimination and social isolation, can trigger a mechanism by which some individuals turn to gambling."
