Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Longitudinal Study: Casino Gambling Attitudes, Motivations, and Gambling Patterns Among Urban Elders

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Gambling Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Guided by self-determination theory, the main purpose of this study was to explore demographic characteristics, attitudes toward casinos, and self-reported intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for casino gambling by urban elders. The study hypothesized that individuals would more frequently report intrinsic motivations for casino gambling (e.g., entertainment, enjoyment) rather than extrinsic motivation (e.g., financial gain). This longitudinal sample included 247 urban elders older who were 60 years and older and who had participated in surveys in 2002 and 2004. The initial survey consisted of (a) demographic items, (b) five items to measure attitudes toward casino gambling, (c) questions inquiring about motivations for casino gambling, and (d) questions about gambling frequency. The follow-up survey was an expanded questionnaire which still included these items. The sample consisted of the 247 participants, over 200 of whom were African-Americans, 188 were female, and 98 of the participants had a post graduate education. About half were widowed, and the sample generally reported a low income. The results supported the theoretical perspective underlying the project. The hypothesis that more participants would endorse intrinsic motivations for casino gambling rather than extrinsic motivations was supported. The implications of these findings represent for social workers, gambling counselors and health care services providers an important step toward understanding the attitudes, behaviors, and motivational factors involved in casino gambling among older adults.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • American Gaming Association. (2008). State of the states: The AGA survey of casino entertainment. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chantal, Y., & Vallerand, R. J. (1996). Skill versus luck: A motivational analysis of gambling involvement. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 407–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chantal, Y., Vallerand, R. J., & Vallières, E. F. (1994). Construction et validation de l’Échelle de Motivation Relative aux Jeux de Hasard et d’Argent [On the development and validation of the gambling motivation scale (GMS)]. Society and Leisure, 17, 189–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chantal, Y., Vallerand, R. J., & Vallières, E. F. (1995). Motivation and gambling involvement. Journal of Social Psychology, 135, 755–763.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapleski, E. (2002). Facing the future: 2002 City of Detroit needs assessment of older adults: A report for the City of Detroit department of senior citizens. Detroit: Wayne State Institute of Gerontology Center for Urban Studies Center for Healthcare Effectiveness Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, D., & Clarkson, J. (2007). A preliminary investigation into motivational factors associated with older adults’ problem gambling. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Retrieved September 21, 2001, from http://www.springerlink.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/content/43l2344k66q34468/fulltext.html.

  • Crisp, B. R., Thomas, S. A., Jackson, A. C., Thomason, N., Smith, S., Borrell, J., et al. (2000). Sex differences in the treatment needs and outcomes of problem gamblers. Research on Social Work Practice, 10, 229–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychologic Inquiry, 11, 319–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Gage, M., Leone, D. R., Usunov, J., & Kornazheva, B. P. (2001). Need satisfaction, motivation, and well-being in the work organizations of a former Eastern bloc country. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 930–942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desai, R. A., Maciejewski, P. K., Dausey, D. J., Caldarone, B. J., & Potenza, M. N. (2004). Health correlates of recreational gambling in older adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 1672–1679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hope, J., & Havir, L. (2002). You bet they’re having fun! Older Americans and casino gambling. Journal of Aging Studies, 16(2), 177–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, C. H. C. (Ed.). (1999). Legalized gambling in the United States: The economic and social impact. New York: Haworth Hospitality Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knee, C. R., & Neighbors, C. (2002). Self-determination, perception of peer pressure, and drinking among college students. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 522–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korn, D. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (1999). Gambling and the health of the public: Adopting a public health perspective. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15, 289–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McKay, C. (2005). Double jeopardy: Older women and problem gambling. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 3(2), 35–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeilly, D. P., & Burke, W. F. (2000). Late life gambling: The attitudes and behaviors of older adults. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 393–415.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNeilly, D. P., & Burke, W. F. (2002). Disposable time and disposable income: Problem gambling behaviors in older adults. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, 8, 75–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council. (1999). Pathological gambling: A critical review. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neighbors, C., Lostutter, T. W., Cronce, J. M., & Larimer, M. E. (2002). Exploring college student gambling motivation. Journal of Gambling Studies, 18, 361–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neighbors, C., Larimer, M. E., & Lewis, M. A. (2004). Targeting misperceptions of descriptive drinking norms: Efficacy of a computer-delivered personalized normative feedback intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 434–447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neighbors, C., Lee, C. M., Lewis, M. A., Fossos, N., & Larimer, M. E. (2007). Are social norms the best predictor of outcomes among heavy-drinking college students? Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 68, 556–565.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., Plant, R. W., & O’Malley, S. (1995). Initial motivations for alcohol treatment: Relations with patient characteristics, treatment involvement, and dropout. Addictive Behaviors, 20, 279–297.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulenberg, J. E., & Maggs, J. L. (2002). A developmental perspective on alcohol use and heavy drinking during adolescence and the transition to young adulthood. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 14(Supplement), 54–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, K. M., Elliot, A. J., Kim, Y., & Kasser, T. (2001). What is satisfying about satisfying events? Testing 10 candidate psychological needs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 325–339.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan-Kerber, C. (2005). Defining “health correlates” in recreational gambling. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 1227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United State Census Bureau. (2010). Sixty-five plus in the United States. Retrieved June 6, 2010, from http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html.

  • United Way of Michigan. (1999). The gaming industry in Michigan: Let’s deal with it. Kalamazoo, MI: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe, J. M. D., & Cox, B. J. (2005). Problem and probable pathological gambling among older adults assessed by the SOGS-R. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 205–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G., Cox, E., Hedberg, V., & Deci, E. (2000). Extrinsic life goals and health-risk behaviors in adolescents. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 30, 1756–1771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S. W. S., & Wortman, J. (2009). Senior citizen gaming: More than just buffets. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (1756–1771), 1(4), 344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaranek, R. R., & Chapleski, E. E. (2005). Casino gambling among urban elders: Just another social activity? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 60B, S74–S81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaranek, R. R., & Lichtenberg, P. A. (2008). Urban elders and casino gambling: Are they at risk of a gambling problem? Journal of Aging Studies, 22, 13–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wayne State University, School of Social Work, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Fayetta Martin

  2. Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology, 87 East Ferry Street, 226 Knapp Building, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Peter A. Lichtenberg

  3. Wayne State University, College of Nursing, 5557 Cass Avenue Cohn, Room 321, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Thomas N. Templin

Authors
  1. Fayetta Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter A. Lichtenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas N. Templin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fayetta Martin.

Additional information

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, 5 P30 AG015281, and the Michigan Center for Urban African-American Aging Research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martin, F., Lichtenberg, P.A. & Templin, T.N. A Longitudinal Study: Casino Gambling Attitudes, Motivations, and Gambling Patterns Among Urban Elders. J Gambl Stud 27, 287–297 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9202-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9202-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation