Journal of Gambling Studies
Volume 25, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 49-65

The prevalence and types of gambling among undocumented mexican immigrants in New York City (Article)

Momper S.L. , Nandi V. , Ompad D.C. , Delva J. , Galea S.
  • a School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
  • b Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, United States
  • c Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, United States
  • d School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States

Abstract

Objectives To examine the prevalence of gambling and types of gambling activities in a sample of undocumented Mexican immigrants. Design Non-probability cross-sectional design. Setting New York City. Sample The 431 respondents ranged in age from 18 to 80 (mean age 32), 69.7% were male. Results More than half (53.8%) reported gambling in their lifetime and of those most (43.9%) played scratch and win tickets or the lottery. In multivariate analyses men reported gambling more than women [2.13, 95% CI = (1.03, 4.38)]. The odds of gambling in their lifetime were higher among those reporting sending money to family or friends in the home country [2.65, 95% CI = 1.10, 6.38)], and those who reported 1-5 days as compared to no days of poor mental health in the past 30 days [2.44, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.89)]. Conversely, those who reported entering the U.S. to live after 1996 were less likely to report gambling [0.44, 95% CI = (0.22, 0.89)] as compared to those who had lived in the U.S. longer. Conclusion There is a need to further explore both the prevalence and the severity of gambling amongst the growing population of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the U.S. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

problem gambling Illegal immigrants Prevalence and types of gambling Undocumented Mexicans minorities

Index Keywords

urban population psychological aspect human middle aged statistics Internal-External Control control Aged ethnology Mexico pathological gambling United States Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants gambling female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics questionnaire prevalence Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article Questionnaires adult migration New York City addiction Behavior, Addictive attitude to health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-59949085845&doi=10.1007%2fs10899-008-9105-9&partnerID=40&md5=ccf5518eab91154c2cfaff00dc7841c3
DOI: 10.1007/s10899-008-9105-9
ISSN: 10505350
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English