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Older Adults and Gambling: A Review

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Abstract

This paper uses the social cognitive theory model to review the literature on older adult gambling, and related personal and environment characteristics. Results show that lottery is the kind of gambling most frequently played by older adults, followed by casino games. Older adults take trips to casinos to socialize, find excitement, and win money. Although prevalence estimate studies suggest that older adults exhibit the same gambling problems as other groups, studies on the impact of problem gambling show that older adults who gamble are also faced with health impairment, and social and psychological issues. Future research should focus on theory, prevalence estimates, longitudinal studies of the impact of gambling and problem gambling, online gambling, and cross-cultural research. Harm minimization methods may be used to reduce older adult gambling involvement.

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Acknowledgement

The author thanks Dr. Thomas J. Knutson for his assistance in the literature search, and Dr. Robert Ladouceur, Dr. Paul T.J. James, and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on the earlier draft of this paper.

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    Vanchai Ariyabuddhiphongs

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Ariyabuddhiphongs, V. Older Adults and Gambling: A Review. Int J Ment Health Addiction 10, 297–308 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-011-9325-6

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