Skip to main content
Log in

Disposable Time and Disposable Income: Problem Casino Gambling Behavior in Older Adults

  • Published:
Journal of Clinical Geropsychology

Abstract

Increasing numbers of retirees spend their leisure time in the ever-growing number of gambling casinos in this country. For most older adults, casino gambling is a new form of excitement and entertainment. However, for some retirees, especially those vulnerable to depression from the changes and losses that can occur in aging, casino gambling can become disordered, problematic, and/or an addiction. Although prevalence studies have examined the incidence of problem gambling in other age groups, little attention has been directed to the impact of casino gambling on older adults. The authors discuss problem and pathological gambling in retired older adults, and provide clinical case examples of a growing number of older adults with problem gambling behaviors seen in an outpatient geriatric psychiatry clinic. Finally, they urge that an evaluation of gambling behaviors be a routine portion of geriatric clinical evaluations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Abbott, D. A., Sheran, L. C., and Sherrets, S. D. (1995). Pathological gambling and the family: Practice implications. Fam. Soc. 76(4): 213–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn., American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, G., and Brown, R. (1984). Real and laboratory gambling, sensation-seeking, and arousal. Br. J. Psychol. 75: 401–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh, C., Eklund, T., Sodersten, P., and Nordin, C. (1997). Altered dopamine function in pathological gambling. Psychol. Med. 27: 473–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, D. W., and Moyer, T. (1998). Clinical features and psychiatric comorbidity of subjects with pathological gambling behavior. Psychiatr. Serv. 49(11): 1434–1439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco, C., Orensanz-Munoz, L., Blanco, J. C., and Salz-Ruiz, J. (1996). Pathological gambling and platelet MAO activity: A psychobiological study. Am. J. Psychiatry 153(1): 119–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaszcynski, A., McConaghy, N., and Frankova, A. (1989). Crime, antisocial personality and pathological gambling. Gambl. Behav. 5: 137–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, W. (1976). Excitement: The gambler's drug. In Eadington, W. R. (ed.), Gambling and Society, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (1986). Arousal and sensation-seeking components in the general explanation of gambling and gambling addictions. Int. J. Addict. 21: 1001–1016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (1987). Classical and operant paradigms in the management of gambling addictions. Behav. Psychother. 15: 111–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. L., and Linnoila, M. (1990). CSF serotonin metabolite (5-HIAA) studies in depression, impulsivity, and violence. J. Clin. Psychiatry (Suppl. 51): 31–41, 42-43.

  • Campbell, F. F. (1976a). The Future of Gambling. The Futurist, April 1976.

  • Campbell, F. F. (1976b). Citing unpublished research of Labat L. University of Nevada gerontologist in The Future of Gambling. The Futurist, April 1976.

  • Chrostowski, K. (1997). Compulsive gamblers inevitably crash in despair. Parks, J., Missouri Department of Mental Health citing report from the National Council on Problem Gambling. Kansas City Star. March 10: 5–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D. E. (1998). The molecular genetics of pathological gambling. CNS Spectrums 3(6): 20–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockford, D. N., and el-Guebaly, N. (1998). Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gambling: A critical review. Can J Psychiatry 43(1): 43–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Custer, R. L., and Milt, H. (1985). When Luck Runs Out, Facts on File Publications, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCaria, C. M., Begaz, T., and Hollander, E. (1998). Serotonergic and Noradrenergic Function in Pathological Gambling. CNS Spectrums 3(6): 38–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCaria, C. M., Hollander, E., Grossman, R., Wong, C. M., Mosovich, S. A., and Cherkasky, S. (1996). Diagnosis, Neurobiology, and Treatment of Pathological Gambling. J. Clin. Psychiatry 57(Suppl. 8): 80–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dostoevsky, F. (1972). The Gambler, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, P. (1997). Addiction crisis stage comes quick for slot players. Executive Director, National Council on Problem Gambling, quoted in The Mississippi Sun Herald, Nov. 25, 1997.

  • Gatz, M., Kasl-Godley, J. E., and Karel, M. J. (1996). Aging and mental disorders. In Birren, J. E., and Schaie, K.W. (eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging, 4th edn., Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp. 365–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glazer, A. (1998). Pathologic gambling. Nurse Pract. 23(9): 74–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haller, R., and Hinterhuber, J. (1994). Treatment of pathological gambling with carbamazepine. Pharmacopsychiatry 27: 129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hand, I. (1998). Pathological gambling: A negative state model and its implications for behavioral treatments. CNS Spectrums 3(6): 58–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, S. L. (1996). Pathological gambling: Etiologic considerations and treatment efficacy of eye movement desensitization/reprocessing. J. Gambl. Stud. 12(4): 395–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins D. C., and el-Guebaly, N. (2000). Natural and treatment-assisted recovery from gambling problems: A comparison of resolved and active gamblers. Addiction 95(5): 777–789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, D. C., Wynne, H., and Makarchuk, K. (1999). Pathways to recovery from gambling problems: Follow-up from a general population survey. J. Gambl. Stud. 15(2): 93–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollander, E., Frenkel, M., DeCaria, C., Trungold, S., and Stein, D. J. (1992). Treatment of pathological gambling with clomipramine. Am. J. Psychiatry 149: 710–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E., Hamer, R., and Nora, R. (1998). The Lie/Bet Questionnaire for Screening Pathological Gamblers: A follow-up study. Psychol. Rep. 83: 1293–1224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E., Hamer, R., Nora, R., Tan, B., Eisenstein, N., and Engelhart, C. (1997). The Lie/Bet Questionnaire for Screening Pathological Gamblers. Psychol. Rep. 80: 83–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kallick, M., Suits, D., Dielman, T., and Hybels, J. (1979). Gambling participation. In Kallick, M., Suits, D., Dielman, T., and Hybels, J. (eds.), A Survey of American Gambling Attitudes and Behavior, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, An Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority (1996). “Facts About Las Vegas.” 1996 statistics, Las Vegas Convention and Authority, Las Vegas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H. R., and Blume, S. B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): A new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers. Am. J. Psychiatry 144: 1184–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H. R., and Blume, S. B. (1993). Revising the South Oaks Gambling Screen in different settings. J. Gambl. Stud. 9: 213–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H. R., Blume, S. B., and Zoppa, R. M. (1984). Alcoholism, drug abuse and gambling. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 10: 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, P. K., Gerstein, D. R., and Maloff, D. R. (1983). Commonalities in Substance Abuse and Habitual Behaviors, Lexington Books, Lexington, KY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, W. L., and Smith, M. H. (1976). The propensity to gamble: Some structural determinants. In Eadington, W. R. (ed.), Gambling and Society, Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnoila, M., Virkkunen, M., Scheinin, M., Nuutila, A., Rimon, R., and Goodwin, F. K. (1983). Low cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration differentiates impulsive from nonimpulsive violent behavior. Life Sci. 33: 2609–2614.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marotta, J. J. (1999). Recovery from gambling problems with and without treatment. Diss. Abstr. Int. Sect. B Sci. Eng. 60(6-B): 2952.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, R. A., Russo, A. M., Ramirez, F. L., and Taber, J. I. (1984). Affective disorders among pathological gamblers seeking treatment. Am. J. Psychiatry 141: 215–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeilly, D. P., and Burke, W. J. (2000). Late life gambling: The attitudes and behaviors of older adults. J. Gambl. Stud. 16(4): 393–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeilly, D. P., and Burke, W. J. (2001). Casino gambling as a social activity of older adults. Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 52(1): 19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mok, W. P., and Hraba, J. (1991). Age and gambling behavior: A declining and shifting pattern of participation. J. Gambl. Stud. 7(4): 313–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskowitz, J. A. (1980). Lithium and lady luck: Use of lithium carbonate in compulsive gambling. N.Y. State J. Med. 80: 785–788.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Opinion Research Council (1999). Gambling Impact and Behavior Study, University of Chicago, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasternak, A. V., and Fleming, M. F. (1999). Arch. Fam. Med. 8: 515–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, H. (1997). Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-Analysis, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Specker, S. M., Carlson, G. A., Christenson, G. A., and Marcotte, M. (1995). Impulse control disorders and attention deficit disorder in pathological gamblers. Ann. Clin. Psychiatry 7: 175–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spunt, B., Lesieur, H., Liberty, H. J., and Hunt, D. (1996). Pathological gamblers in methadone treatment: A comparison between men and women. J. Gambl. Stud. 12(4): 431–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taber, J. I., McCormick, R. A., Russa, A. M., Adkins, B. J., and Ramirez, L. F. (1987). Follow-up on pathological gamblers after treatment. Am. J. Psychiatry 144: 757–761.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Executive Office of the Governor (1997). Casinos in Florida: An Analysis of the Economic and Social Impacts, The Executive Office of the Governor, Office of Planning and Budgeting, Tallahase, Fl.

    Google Scholar 

  • Widgery, R. (1998). The effects of casino gambling on at-risk groups in the city of Detroit. Soc. Syst. Res. Inst. Rep. May 18, 1998.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McNeilly, D.P., Burke, W.J. Disposable Time and Disposable Income: Problem Casino Gambling Behavior in Older Adults. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology 8, 75–85 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014679507988

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014679507988

Navigation