Wellness Center

Recreational Gambling: Is it Healthy for Seniors?

Dropping a quarter in a slot machine might be a fun activity on the occasional vacation or outing to a casino. But research suggests that seniors might experience benefits as well as risks from gambling. Here are some things that seniors should consider when it comes to gambling:

• Health benefits? Results of a telephone survey that included 2,400 seniors over the age of 65 showed that seniors who gamble report better health than seniors who don’t gamble. This might relate to the social aspects of gambling. The activity gets seniors out into the community and helps them interact with others and use their brains. This might help ease feelings of loneliness and isolation. But experts suggest that the survey results should be interpreted with caution because there are also real risks for seniors. The study also showed that seniors who gamble also drink more alcohol than do non-gamblers. In fact, other studies have shown that seniors who gamble might drink more and have poorer health (possibly as a result) than do their counterparts.

• Reasons seniors gamble. Studies have shown that there are recreational, social, and mental reasons why seniors gamble including, for example, time on their hands, loss of a partner, not working, and being disabled and unable to do other more vigorous activities. Some studies have shown that gambling among seniors is more common among males, and people who drink more, but also among people who are less depressed and have greater social support.

• Time on your hands. Seniors are more likely than others to have time on their hands. This can be a good thing – allowing for more time with family, hobbies, and vacations. But when it comes to gambling, excess time can be a risk that leads to an addiction or loss of more money than planned. Gambling should be only an occasional recreational activity with a specific budget in mind that won’t break the bank or cause any financial strain if the money doesn’t come back home.

• Limited budget.  One study showed that more than a quarter of seniors use money from their savings in order to gamble. And while seniors might have more discretionary income than other age groups do, they need to be careful about their spending choices as they are also more likely to have a fixed income that cannot be easily replaced when money is lost.  

• Red flags. There are some red flags that suggest their gambling has become more than the occasional fun activity, and in fact has led to an addiction or destructive behavior. The red flags include: spending beyond your means, going into debt in order to get that “big win,” excessive gambling or obsessive thoughts about gambling, gambling that interferes with relationships or work, and using gambling to avoid feelings of grief, anger, pain, anxiety, or depression.

Gambling, when done in moderation, can be a fun recreational activity for seniors that might even have social benefits. Seniors need to be aware, however, of the risks and ask for help from their physician, family, or friends if they identify red flags that suggest their gambling has gotten out of control.

Sources:

1. Desai RA, Maciejewski PK, Dausey DJ et al. Health correlates of gambling in older adults. American Journal of Psychiatry; 161:1672-1679.
2. Vander Bilt J, Dodge HH, Pandav R et al. Gambling participation and social support among older adults: a longitudinal community study. Journal of Gambling Studies; 20:373-89.
3. Southwell J, Boreham P, Laffan W. Problem gambling and the circumstances facing older people: a study of gaming machine players aged 60+ in licensed clubs. Journal of Gambling Studies; 24:151-74.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis of specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt professional medical attention if you have a particular concern about your health or specific symptoms. Wellsource, Inc. is not liable for any health consequences resulting from your use of this site.