While most modern regulated markets consider minors and young adults to be the most vulnerable groups when it comes to gambling, it turns out that older players aren’t completely safe either. According to experts, older Americans are another major vulnerable group that often finds itself taken advantage of.
Senior Citizens Are an Often-Overlooked Vulnerable Group
According to experts, young men are not the only ones at risk of developing harmful gambling addictions. While no one is immune to harm, new studies suggest that senior citizens can be a particularly vulnerable group.
Speaking to WVTF’s Radio IQ, Dr. Carolyn Hawley of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health said that the rapid expansion of the gaming industry in America has increased access to various forms of gambling. This has impacted older adults, many of whom now have access to gambling at their fingertips.
You used to have to go someplace – leave your house to gamble. There were set hours when you could do that and transactions often had to involve cash. And all of those barriers are now gone, especially when we look at our online platforms.
Dr. Carolyn Hawley
According to Dr. Hawley, older citizens are sometimes overlooked when it comes to discussing problem gambling.
John Rosengren examined this susceptibility of older Americans. While he acknowledged that anyone can get in trouble, he said that the vulnerabilities of older Americans must be brought to light. He explained that the gambling industry has long targeted the elderly and, in the past, would even pick them up from their residences on the days they got their Social Security checks.
Rosengren added that a lot of gambling ads have been featuring seniors enjoying themselves. This makes gambling seem like a pleasant social experience to elderly people, who are often lonely or cannot do physical activities, causing them to turn to gambling.
Gambling Harm Can Be a Serious Problem
Rosengren expressed concern about the targeting of older people, saying that the casino industry often ends up siphoning away the life savings of elderly people. He pointed to a case that he profiled where an elderly man would play Wheel of Fortune in his lounge chair while his wife slept.
To make matters worse, some such people often find themselves in debt and even consider suicide. Rosengren added that estimates show that roughly 20% of addicts have either attempted or contemplated suicide.
Dr. Hawley noted that there is not enough research to compare the problem gambling rates among seniors to other demographics and said that further studies are needed. She also said that she believes that more money should go toward Virginia’s Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.