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Senior Problem Gambling: Some Statistics

Between 1975 and 1997 the number of American adults 65 years of age or older that had ever gambled increased by 45% (1).

The percentage of women 65 years of age or older who had ever gambled rose from 1994 to 1998 by 20% (1).

Gambling is the most frequently identified social activity among adults 65 years of age and older (2).

Older adult patrons at gambling facilities are 3.5 times as likely to be "at risk" for problem gambling than other older adults randomly chosen from the same community, are 6 times as likely to be "problem gamblers", and 3.7 times as likely to be "probable pathological gamblers (3)."

1 NORC, 1999, Gambling Impact and Behavior Study. Chicago: University of Chicago.
2 McNeilly, D.P. and Burke, W.J. (2001). Casino Gambling as a Social Activity of Older Adults. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 52(1):19-28.
3McNeilly, D.P. & Burke, W.J (2000). Late Life Gambling:The Attitudes and Behaviors of Older Adults. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16 (4): 393-415.

Reprinted from COMMON CENTS, Senior Problem Gambling: Trends, Prevention, and Treatment, Produced and Distributed By: CT DMHAS Compulsive Gambling Treatment Program, CT Council on Problem Gambling. February 2001.