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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Gambling is risky for your wallet -- and new research suggests it may be a threat to the very life of older adults. A recent study shows older self-reported problem gamblers may be three to four times more likely to be suicidal than younger problem gamblers.
Investigators examined 1,601 self-described problem gamblers who asked to be banned from Missouri casinos between 2001 and 2002. They found nearly 14 percent of older gamblers sought help because they wanted to prevent committing suicide. This number is much higher than in younger and middle-aged gamblers.
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This is particularly troubling, because, irrespective of age, problem gamblers have reported rates of suicidal ideation and/or attempts as high as six times those found in the general population, Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University, was quoted as saying.
Researchers note that older gamblers preference for non-strategic games like slot machines, video poker and lottery tickets may quicken the onset of gambling problems and that older adults are less likely to receive mental health treatment.
The study is the first to look at age differences in the demographics and gambling preferences of those asked to be barred from casinos. Programs in certain states -- like Missouri -- enable gamblers to enter an agreement with a casino that authorizes casino staff to ban them from the premises.
SOURCE: Psychology and Aging, 2008;23:577-584
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