Are older people more likely to become problem gamblers?
For millions of Canadians, buying lottery tickets, betting on the horses or feeding the slots is nothing more than a fool’s tax that raises billions for provincial treasuries. For many others, however, gambling is a serious soul-shattering addiction that's tough to be beat.
And the older you get, the bigger the potential problem, research suggests. Some 68% of Canadian seniors gamble, and around 2.1% have moderate to severe gambling-related problems, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
Seniors gamble for the same reasons — to have fun, make money, curiosity — that drive most casino visitors.
However, with much more time on their hands, some older people use gambling as a way to escape their everyday problems: loneliness, the loss of a spouse, or the stressful demands of distant family.
“The new face of problem gambling in America has become a senior woman who has lost a spouse or become alienated from her children, but has embraced slot machines and quite rapidly develops an addiction,” maintains Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
It's not a uniquely 'female' problem, however. Ask Tim Finn, a 65-year-old who came close to the brink before quitting cold turkey.
“I learned that I saw gambling as a way to make money — which is not a good thing at all,” says Finn. “Very, very few gamblers end up in the plus side of the ledger — although most will tell you they do. Gamblers are notorious liars, because mainly they’re lying to themselves.”
Are there any older problem gamblers in your family? Has this always been an issue or did it start later in life?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: John | Jan 9, 2022 4:30:06 PM
I don't have any gamblers in my family, but I do know some gamblers. It is not so much that they are older, in fact, they are all of very low income.
Posted by: lost life | Jan 14, 2022 9:00:34 AM
my wife fell victum to the machines, I told her how do I fight a machine.
Posted by: dmdickson | Jan 14, 2022 9:57:59 AM
I have been Gambling since I was 17 and I,am now 69 , wow I put hundreds of thousands of dollars in the machines and although I consider myself smart I know there computers and one cannot beat them there not set up for you to win?
It house odds win a hunderd to day lose two to-morrow.
My advice to all is ,buy something useful or give to the poor , because you,ll never win ,they the machines make sure of that .
In closing think of better places to put your money .
DM
Posted by: Saddened | Jan 14, 2022 1:36:18 PM
My mom who is a pensioner wastes so much money at these slot machines. I can't give her large incriments of cash to help her because she spends it there. I buy her things instead- new bed, linens, groceries etc and she gets real angry with me. I need the cash not things she says. I make her feel bad by not giving her the money and then I feel bad. She never gambled in her life until her old age. Says she isn't hurtng anyone because she is no longer responsible for others - true but she relies on me to pay her bills, put gas in her car and get groceries. I have my own family and reponsibilites too. It's a very sad situation that causes friction in my own household
Posted by: True Canadian | Jan 14, 2022 1:40:20 PM
Compulsive Gambler here - and I know that GA saved my life, but wasnt quite so successful with many many of my GA friends. I learned that many people have compulsive disorders which can manifest themselves when given the chance. For ex, I am complusive to gambling but not drugs or alcohol or even tobacco, but many people are "cross-addicted" to a few or "multi-addicted" to many of these vices. So the real answer to this question is whether these "seniors" are new to the gambling game, and how they handle their finances. If they stay within their limits and dont live in the Casino for a life, they should be okay. I also believe that almost ALL seniors have a relative or know of one who financially ruined his/her life and possibly those of an entire family generation with uncontrolled gambling, thus are quite aware of the risks and quite aware of recognizing the signs that it is becoming more than just a game. In a word - NO - I recognize that many seniors are using gambling as a form of entertainment, but most are wise and savvy enough to not fall prey to it. If you are right that 2.1% are problem, then that is barely half of the estimated 4% of the general populace who would have problems if gambling became a pastime.
Posted by: Brian Westwood | Jan 14, 2022 1:54:57 PM
Gambling is nothing more than legalized theft for the corporations (such as in Vegas), groups (such as the Native tribes in the US) and governments (like here in Canada) who operate gambling establishments and profit from them. It is (and always will be) fact that casinos make most of their profit off of a small percentage of their clientele, the addicted and the rich. Thus, their ultimate goal is (and always will be) to GET people addicted in the 1st-place. Here in Canada, since the government runs the gambling industry, casino operators and the provincial lotto corps. that oversee them are morally and legally obligated to have programs to assist problem gamblers, yet it has been proven over-and-over again in several media reports and undercover investigations that they are consistently turning a blind-eye to such people (and once again I'd be willing to BET ANYTHING that they always will be, PUN INTENDED). I truly wish casinos didn't exist at all, for they are historically corrupt enterprises that prey primarily on society's most vulnerable. The HOUSE ALWAYS WINS and will even CHEAT IF NECESSARY to do so in most jurisdictions. Therefore, my advice to anyone (and this is coming from someone who is highly educated on the gambling industry, its history, and how it has and will always operate), is to simply STAY THE HECK AWAY! If you decide to still gamble AT ALL, then stick ONLY to NON-house games such as poker and single-bet sports-wagering, and/or gamble in places where gambling is properly regulated (and by this I mean that those who solely oversee the honesty of the casinos in a certain state or province is NOT the same entity that profits from their operation). Here on the west coast of North America, the state of Nevada is about the only one. Unless you live in the state of Nevada, a few trips a year to Vegas or Reno isn't as likely to break anyone financially as gambling in casinos in Canada or other states, where there now seem to be casinos everywhere that are open 24/7/365. If you do everything I've suggested, you likely won't wind-up with a gambling addiction. If you think that you can gamble for entertainment only and always control yourself, then fine, go right ahead, but you've now been forewarned.