Care to Make a Wager? Seniors Enjoy Recreational Gambling
By Teresa Ambord
It’s fun, it’s a diversion, it’s recreation and it’s a chance to socialize. That’s how a lot of senior citizens describe casino gambling. Some even say that games that require a lot of concentration, such as poker (on slot machines) where many hands are played at once, challenge their minds and improve their mental stamina. When surveyed, one out of three senior citizens said they enjoy recreational gambling.
This fact has not been lost on the casinos, which go out of their way to cater to seniors. After all, while most people can only visit casinos on vacation or on weekends, most seniors have two things casinos love…time on their hands, and disposable income. These factors make senior citizens the core population for many casinos. To help ensure seniors know they are welcome, casinos make it as easy as possible for them to visit. Many of them provide round trip transportation from around town to the casino. Many casinos keep a supply of wheelchairs available and equip their bathrooms with more handicap stalls than required.
Critics say the casinos take advantage of senior citizens by making it so easy to spend time there. But seniors don’t seem to mind being wooed at all, and most seem to have a good grasp of how much they can afford to spend. Studies show that ten percent of senior citizens are problem gamblers, which is about the same as for any other group. But for a senior citizen, becoming a problem gambler can have much worse repercussions, since seniors have less chance to re-coop their losses.
If you’re not sure if you’re a problem gambler, here are a few of the signs that trouble may be brewing.
Gambling may be a problem for you if you are:
- Pre-occupied with it.
- If it takes increasing amounts of money to satisfy your gambling desire
- If you often gamble longer than you planned to
- If you’ve tried repeatedly to cut back or stop, without success
Of course, everyone is different. If you’re interested, you can read the complete list of symptoms of problem gambling by logging onto the Web site: Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling.
If you love to gamble but want to stretch your gambling dollars a little, here are some tips:
- Budget for a trip to the casino like you would for any other form of entertainment, like going to the movies. One gentleman surveyed says he plans a visit to a casino once a month with $50. That’s all he takes with him. When it’s gone (assuming he’s not winning) he goes home. He’s comfortable with the knowledge that he may lose $50, and of course, excited about the possibility of winning.
- Another way to limit your losses is to take into the casino only the amount you are willing to lose so you’re not tempted to go overboard. If having your credit cards and ATM card with you represents a problem, don’t bring them into the casino.
- Get club cards wherever you gamble, and even where you don’t. Some cards can be applied for online before you leave home. Many casinos give discounts and coupons for their restaurants, hotels, and gift shops, to all their cardholders.
- Keep your eyes peeled for coupons and discounts advertised in the many freebie publications you’ll find around town.
- Watch for promotions such as double points for playing on certain days or between certain hours.
- Slot machine players develop a kind of rhythm, hitting the play button every time the machine stops. But you don’t have to do that. Pausing just a couple of seconds before you hit the button each time will stretch your money considerably.
- When you tire of one machine or table, take a gambling break before you find another place to play. Walk around for a few minutes and people watch, or get a little fresh air. You’ll feel better and your money will last longer.
