The Casino Debate & Communities of Color
The recent controversy around NFL player Michael Vick’s participation in dog fighting put a spotlight on the many gambling habits happening within high risk communities around the country. According to those who are against the Massachusetts casino proposal, they say casinos would only exacerbate problem gambling among those mostly affected, namely people of color and low income communities.
A study from the Washington University in St. Louis shows that problem gambling in minority communities is 2-3 times higher than in white communities, however, minorities receive little to no care prevention and treatment. Many surveys show that people of color have the highest lottery participation rates in many states. As a matter of fact, lottery participation in minority communities is such a problem that many personal finance analysts call it Lottery Riches Syndrome.
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