Which group in the U.S. is identified in DSM-5 as having highest prevalence of gambling disorder?

• A. Caucasians
• B. Asian Americans
• C. Hispanics
• D. African Americans

Answer: (D)

Differences in prevalence by race/ethnicity are shown in DSM-5–based epidemiological data, with African American adults identifying the highest rate of gambling disorder among major U.S. racial groups. This means that, across large national surveys using DSM-5 criteria, African Americans are more likely to meet the criteria for gambling disorder than Caucasians, Hispanics, or Asian Americans, even though the overall prevalence remains relatively low for all groups.

Understanding this helps clinicians recognize that population-level risk is not evenly distributed and underscores the importance of culturally informed screening and outreach. At the same time, individual risk varies widely, and gambling problems can affect anyone regardless of ethnicity.