•  Addictions & Substance Abuse •  Seniors and Alcohol Use

Gambling can be a fun diversion for adults of any age. Many people enjoy going to the horse races, picking teams in an office pool, or dreaming of lottery winnings. For seniors, especially, a bingo parlor or casino can be a great opportunity for socializing and a nice break from routine life.

The great majority of people, young and old, gamble responsibly, but the pastime can certainly turn into a problem. By the most basic definition, people with a gambling problem are those who risk more than they can afford to lose. Many seniors realize they're in trouble when they start gambling away rent and prescription money, says Ron Karpin, senior outreach coordinator with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

It's easy for friends and families to overlook an older person's out-of-control gambling, says Dennis McNeilly, PhD, an associate professor and Clinical Geropsychologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who has extensively studied gambling among seniors. In many cases, adult children don't know how their parents spend their time or money and don't realize the scope of the problem until they help them pay bills or balance a checkbook.

The signs of a gambling problem may be subtle, but there are some red flags to watch for, McNeilly says. An older person who constantly talks about gambling wins but rarely mentions losses may be at risk, and family members should worry when gambling starts to replace long-cherished activities.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, any of the following traits can also signal a gambling problem. Compulsive gamblers will display five or more of these characteristics, but even one or two of these signs may be a signal that help is needed, McNeilly says.

•Being preoccupied with gambling (e.g., spending all one's time reminiscing about past gambling experiences, planning the next outing, or thinking about ways to get gambling money)

•Having to increase the stakes to maintain excitement

•Repeatedly failing to stop or cut back on gambling

•Becoming irritable when trying to cut back on gambling

•Using gambling as an escape from feelings of anxiety and depression

•Gambling to make up for recent losses ("chasing" one's losses)

•Lying to hide gambling activities

•Resorting to illegal acts such as forgery or fraud to finance gambling

•Risking or losing a relationship or job because of gambling

•Borrowing money from others to make up for gambling losses

Older people are the lifeblood of the gambling industry. According to Karpin, 65 percent of the $3.7 billion hauled in by Atlantic City casinos in 1997 came from the pockets of people 60 and older. And as gambling opportunities explode around the country, more and more seniors are catching the bug. A recent survey of over 6,500 older people in the Omaha, Nebraska, area (where three relatively new riverboat casinos now float) found that going to casinos was their second favorite activity, after bingo.

Seniors may do more than their share of gaming, but they are probably no more likely than others to become hooked, Karpin says. Roughly 3 percent to 5 percent of all gamblers, regardless of age, will become compulsive, he says. But as more seniors take up gambling, more fall into the trap. In 1994, 13 percent of people calling a New Jersey help line for problem gamblers were over 55. By 1998, that number rose to 18 percent.

Unlike younger gamblers, who go to casinos looking for action and excitement, many older people use gambling as an escape, McNeilly says. Not surprisingly, seniors with the greatest need for that escape are the most vulnerable to gambling problems. The great majority of older compulsive gamblers also suffer from anxiety or depression, he says. People who have recently lost a spouse, were diagnosed with a serious illness, or went through some other calamity are also at risk, he says.

If you know anyone who shows signs of compulsive gambling, talk to him or her about the problem. Many older people manage to cut back or quit gambling on their own once they recognize the situation, Karpin says.

Others need expert help. One-on-one therapy with a psychologist or other professional is often the best treatment for seniors with gambling problems, McNeilly says. A therapist can not only help treat the compulsion, but also address any underlying anxiety or depression. Group therapy, such as the 12-step program offered by Gambler's Anonymous, can be highly effective as well, he says.

For a wealth of information on gambling problems and for a list of support groups near you, visit Gambler's Anonymous at http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the northern California Society of Professional Journalists.

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First published March 21, 2000
Last updated April 19, 2007
Copyright © 2000 Consumer Health Interactive

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