Government-operated gambling has grown over the past two decades. While many people gamble safely for entertainment, there is an emerging concern about gambling-related harms among some individuals and communities. Personal factors such as low income without the possibility of future earnings, social isolation, addiction to alcohol or other drugs, and physical or psychological health problems, make many seniors vulnerable. Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and having experienced stressful events may also increase the risk of problem gambling.
Gambling-related harms may result in a number of individual challenges, including: health-related harms, emotional distress and conflict in personal relationships. There are a number of steps that can be taken to address problem gambling among seniors.
Read through our resources below to learn more about the risks of problem gambling, how to identify them, and the importance of promoting other types of recreational activities to nurture social interaction and reduce isolation.
The emerging concern about gambling-related harms
Featured Resources
- Blog Post: Don’t go for broke : Addressing gambling-related harms
- Blog Post: It's not always just a game! Identify the risk of problem gambling among seniors
- Web Resource Rating: Gambling cognitions
- Web Resource Rating: Interactive conceptual framework of harmful gambling
- Web Resource Rating: Venue/casino
DISCLAIMER: Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of these blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations such as social distancing and frequent hand washing. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with current social distancing recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.
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