Summary:

This report was funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to examine perceptions and beliefs of African Americans towards casino gambling as well as other forms of gambling.

The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) conduct an exploratory qualitative analysis describing the main themes, concerns, and perceptions regarding gambling and casinos among African Americans in Massachusetts; 2) complement SEIGMA’s quantitative findings related to gambling among African American residents in Massachusetts; 3) explore environmental and contextual factors that might influence gambling behavior of African Americans.

JSI conducted five focus groups with African American participants (N=49) between November 2017 and April 2018. Three of the focus groups were conducted with residents of Boston, a fourth one with residents of Everett-Chelsea, and the fifth one in Springfield. All participants completed an intake survey comprised of basic sociodemographic and the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) which we used solely as a screening tool. The focus group discussion were guided by the following themes: life context, overall gambling experiences and behavior i.e., problem gambling, help-seeking behavior, casino gambling and the community, and views about casinos in Massachusetts. Finally, data collection and interpretation was focused on understanding, from the perspective of the individual, common gambling experiences, as well as views about casino gambling.