Bobbe McGinley has worked with Problem and Compulsive gamblers since being Certified by the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. She is Clinical Director, Counselor and Consultant at ACT Counseling and Education. Reach her at 602-569-4328 or visit www.actcounseling.com

With Arizona’s retirement communities multiplying, it stands to reason many individuals drawn to these communities would find relaxation and socialization at our racetracks, off track betting parlors, multiple Bingo environments, and community casinos.

Many of seniors  have led very productive and responsible lifestyles, and are completed taken off guard by the power of gambling when they become aware that they do indeed have a problem. It may be late enough in their life that they are unable to rejoin the workforce to replenish the finances they’ve lost to gambling.

Many senior gamblers report they found it easy to become totally hypnotized by the gambling they were engaging in and some also say they did not seem to need sleep or food. The choice to gamble seemed to replace basic needs, and in time they did not pay attention them. And, they not only lost track of their time, they lost track of their money.

If some of these seniors were fortunate enough to have won any money, they stayed and played until all of it was gone.

Today we are seeing more women becoming addicted who report devastating financial consequences of their gambling habits.

There is a variety of gambling venues that range from playing horses, lottery, scratch tickets and slot and video poker machines. They too became hypnotized and return for more ‘entertainment’ due to loneliness or boredom and oftentimes in the attempt to regain their financial losses from a prior gambling experience.

People on fixed incomes find it impossible to rebuild their finances after their addiction takes over. The risk of suicide rises to an alarming rate at this point for elderly gamblers who lose their money.

At this point gambling is no longer considered casual or harmless. Although the elderly claim the draw to gambling is social interaction, the games are completed in an isolated manner. Players may feel safe in the environment, but there is little to no social interaction  occuring while seniors are gambling or betting.

The emotional escape from life’s problems while gambling is identified as the sole factor that keeps them going back. Money just means they can play longer, thereby escaping emotional or physical pain for a longer period of time.

My senior clients have told me they experience a mood altering euphoria, no matter what the game. Some have given up all other coping skills and escape as their way to forget their problems. When faced with giving up this compulsion the fear of not knowing how to cope any other way becomes greater than the fear of what they are doing to themselves through their continued gambling.

Independence is another draw to the gambling experience. Some experience a false sense of empowerment as they gamble by themselves, without family members making demands on their time and energy.

There is help.  If you or someone you know fits any of the criteria mentioned here, call ACT-Counseling & Education.