Gambling Becomes a Growing Problem for Older Americans

A bulletin arrived in my mail box compliments of American Care Managers, LLC/American Home Care, LLC calling attention to the growing problem of gambling and the serious financial problems it can have on older Americans.

" ...Many casinos cater to the senior population by offering cheap or free bus rides with complimentary meal tickets including $25 in chips as an incentive to coax them into coming to the casino on a more frequent basis. Casinos send exciting marketing pamphlets to senior centers, advertise in senior magazines, and send fliers or brochures directly to people’s homes.

"Seniors are ripe to develop a gambling problem, many times they are lonely, depressed, bored, have extra money, loss of mobility, and loss of job. Gambling becomes an option for the senor population enabling them to drown their problems in the casino. When there is no family member or caretaker to counter these problems as they develop or to stop them from putting their first chip into the slot machine, the chance that a senior person will develop a gambling problem more than doubles. "

"When seniors pick up gambling it becomes an expensive recreation activity. On average, NJ seniors 55 and above who enjoy gambling on a recreational basis spend on average $3,900 a year and $14,300 a year if they truly have a gambling problem, as stated in a Public Mind Poll developed by Fairleigh Dickenson University."

"In order for these problem gamblers to fund their expensive hobby many seniors take out second mortgages, run up credit cards debt, and deplete their retirement savings. Though unlike younger individuals, seniors do not have the time left in their lives to recoup or rebuild their losses. They typically spiral into a hole they can’t dig themselves out of and end up homeless or in a state facility. "

One way to help a senior person determine if they have a gambling problem is to have them take this online test at http://www.gamblinghelp.org/sections/seniors/index.html#.