General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Senior Gambling Addiction Rates Soaring in America, Driven by Corporate Greed, Bad Govt. Policy [View all]LuvNewcastle
(16,834 posts)it's going to continue to get worse. Casinos are targeting seniors because they're the people with the most money these days. But sooner or later, a lot of them run out and get into trouble.
I'd say that more than half of casino patrons down here are seniors. A lot of old people move here from other places because of the casinos, or it's the combination of the mild climate, casinos and golf, and access to a VA hospital. At certain times of the day, you can walk through the slot areas in any casino and see long lines of grey heads sitting at the machines. The casinos send them coupons for free food at the buffet, and that's the hook that gets them in the door. Most can't just eat and run; they have to stay and play for at least a little while.
I tell people all the time, especially people in their 40's, to save all the money they can because they can't depend on mom and dad to leave them anything. If the casinos don't get their money, the retirement homes will. I have friends who have had to bail their parents out after they went through all their savings, maxed out their credit cards, and were about to lose their homes. If any of you have aged parents and they live in a town with casinos, I suggest you stay involved in their lives and know what they're doing. Try to steer them toward healthy hobbies and other activities. They probably have friends who hang out at the casinos all the time, and it's really easy for them to get caught up in some bad habits.