Indian Casinos Hit Jackpot With the Elderly
"Seniors are often dealing with loss of a spouse, loneliness, boredom, or they are unable to cope with retirement. For all those reasons, casinos can be a very comfortable place for seniors," said Bruce Roberts, president of the California Council on Problem Gambling.
One recent study concluded that recreational gamblers older than 65 reported better overall health than their non-gambling peers. The social, physical and cognitive stimulation of gambling could be part of the reason, said Yale epidemiologist Rani Desai, one of the study authors.
It also could simply be that "among the older folks, gamblers are healthier to begin with" -- healthy enough to go to casinos, Desai said.
Despite the potential benefits, many experts say gambling addictions are being kindled -- with unforeseeable consequences for retirees and their families.
"Ever since the growth of Indian casinos, so many more seniors are gambling away their golden years," said Suzanne Graupner Pike, a psychologist with the San Diego Center for Pathological Gambling. "It's tragic."
No hard statistics are available, but seniors are just as vulnerable as younger people to gambling problems, they say, and the proliferation of casinos inevitably will ruin lives.
Pike, who has been treating gamblers for 11 years, said one-third of her nearly 50 patients are seniors, and each is hooked on gambling at Indian casinos. Several of her elderly patients have refinanced their homes to pay off gambling debts, some have filed for bankruptcy and a few have attempted suicide, she said.
"Aging is a time of repeated losses, and that can lead to depression," said Pike, who gets most of her referrals from a Gamblers Anonymous toll-free hotline. "Seniors are separating from their children geographically and losing their sense of self through retirement. So they go to the casinos to escape from their lives."
Casinos welcome retirees with enthusiasm -- in part because they arrive during the day, when other gamblers are scarce.
"Seniors are half the market of Indian casinos," said Bill Thompson, a University of Nevada-Las Vegas professor of public administration who has written nine books on gambling. "They are the perfect demographic for the casinos."
Kathy Swank, a spokeswoman for Harrah's Rincon, another north San Diego County casino, agreed. "Seniors are a great market for us," said Swank, who said her casino did 42% of its September business with adults older than 60. "They have more discretionary income and more time on their hands," Swank said. "During the week, the seniors and the bus program support us."
- Odds Are Good Gambling May Be Teen Vice of '90s May 15, 1990
- Odds Are, They Have the Bottom Line on Gambling Aug 04, 1997
- Youngsters More Susceptible to Gambling Fever Than Adults, Experts Say Feb 27, 1994
