Published in Senior Times
December, 1999

Once upon a time, before governments discovered how much money could be made from it, gambling was considered illegal and immoral, something that intelligent, responsible people just didn’t do. In fact, if they gambled at all, men played cards with their friends while women played Bingo. It was a social pastime.

Today, almost everyone is gambling in one way or another. What is more, the gender barrier has been broken. Women, both young and old, not only go to casinos but also into bars unescorted, behaviour that was once considered scandalous. Since gambling (an immoral vice) was replaced with gaming (a great source of revenue for governments) certain segments of the population are being targeted by the gaming industry as easy prey. One of these groups is Senior Citizens.

We are being programmed and desensitized by the massive advertising campaigns of the "gaming industry". Walk into any venue where slot machines are present and you are likely to notice a "sea of grey". Across the country, casinos are sending buses to retirement homes, often for free, to fill up the stools in front of slot machines. They are offering Seniors free buffets and free play as they lead innocent victims into a potentially deadly addiction. Particularly at risk are those people who are widowed and alone.

As is commonplace among problem gamblers, the addiction is not really about money. Seniors seek an escape from loneliness, boredom and physical pains, and subconsciously they are willing to pay for this privilege. One need only observe the clientele at a lottery booth or a corner store to see how many dollars our Seniors are wasting on various scratch tickets. The odds of winning a major prize are extremely minimal, and although the themes of the different games change, the odds never do. The two perennial games among scratch tickets are Bingo and Crosswords. Even spokespeople for Loto-Quebec admit that many people don’t play them to win money. They play them to pass the time.

While, as a gambling critic, I neither endorse nor oppose social gambling, I feel very strongly that education and awareness programs need to be available. I am not saying that all seniors should quit gambling. I am, however, recommending that people learn to recognize the signs that may warn them that there is a problem developing for themselves or someone they know.
Here are some tips on preventing gambling problems:

Never gamble when you are ill, tired or depressed.
Always set a prior limit on your losses.
Don’t chase your losses.
Never gamble with money you can’t afford to lose.
Set a limit on the amount of time you intend to gamble.
Don’t gamble alone.
Learn more about gambling i.e. the odds of winning. If you or someone you know has a problem, or if you would simply like to comment on this article, please contact:


Sol Boxenbaum (CEO)
VIVA CONSULTING