Growing number of boomers are problem gamblers
By Mark Miller, Reuters
Once upon a time, bingo was the biggest game in town at the local senior center. But you’re far more likely to find today’s seniors manning a slot machine at the local casino – and some have become gambling addicts.
Problem gambling among older people is on the rise. Seniors have time and money on their hands, and the proliferation of casinos in most regions of the country has made gambling more convenient.
“What we are seeing is that seniors are the backbone of the modern casino industry,” says Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), a nonprofit organization that advocates for programs and services to help problem gamblers and their families. “The marketing and promotion to seniors is light-years from what it was.”
Experts say gray gambling addiction will become more prevalent as the baby boomers age.
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