Gambling Adults 55+
What's up in Ontario? .. The following information is for adults age 55 and over.
| - | Please note that anyone 55 years or older is classified as an "older adult" with respect to our services and our funding. |
| - | Gambling is a new pastime of the 21ST Century especially with Older Adults. |
| - | In the past 12 months 75% of older adults in Ontario reported gambling. 27.8% gamble weekly. |
| - | It is estimated that 90% of older adults in Ontario are gambling in some form. Many older adults do not recognize their gambling activity as actual gambling. E.g. they may not see scratch tickets or bingo as gambling. |
| - | Older Adults tend to gamble at passive, pure chance activities with high payouts. They are more frequent purchasers of lottery and instant win tickets. |
| - | They spend a higher proportion of their income on gambling than younger adults do. |
| - | Many older adults are participating in more than one form of gambling. |
| - | Those who gamble report participating in the following types of gambling: lottery tickets (65.3%), raffle tickets (47.9%), instant win tickets (32%), slots (24.1%), Bingo (8.1%), action gambling e.g. horses, casino cards, sports betting is minimal. |
Problem Gambling and Older Adults
- 4.6 to 6.4% of older adults are problem gamblers.
- Those at highest risk of developing problems are low income persons, age 60-65 years old who are isolated. Women living alone are most vulnerable.
- Grief and loss, childhood trauma, chronic pain, and need for mood relief and excitement are also risk factors.
- 1.5% of persons who have Parkinson's Disease and are treated with dopamine agonist medications such as Parlodel, Perma, Mirapex and Requip have developed a gambling problem.
- Mail order lotteries can also be a problem for some older adults. There are promises of being entered in a sweepstakes when items are ordered. Some companies can be unscrupulous and build trust with isolated seniors and order to get their money or assets.
" The greatest protectors in avoiding gambling problems for older adults are having strong religious beliefs, having connections to friends and family, and having well balanced life interests. "
These statistics were sourced from:
COPA, J. Tindale & J. Norris, OPGRC, RGC, "Betting on Older Adults", CAMH
If you are concerned about your own gambling or someone else's gambling, please call our Intake line at 673-3242 ext. 234 or send us an email by clicking helliott@adstv.on.ca . We have offices in London, Tillsonburg, Woodstock, St. Thomas and Strathroy. We also offer telephone counseling.
Our staff would be pleased to come out and provide a presentation to any community group, organization, church or agency. Just call our intake line.
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