1. Gambling and Problem Gambling among Older Minnesota Adults
Randy Stinchfield, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry
University of Minnesota Medical School

2. Acknowledgements
This report was written with funds from the State of Minnesota to the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance, Roseville, Minnesota.
This report is part of the mission of Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance to provide current information about gambling and problem gambling in the State of Minnesota
Minnesota older adult gambling participation data was provided by the Minnesota State Lottery
Thank you to Cathie Perrault, executive director, and the board of directors of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance for their helpful reviews

3. Casino in the middle of the day

4. Why are older adults at the casino?
They have the time
They have disposable income to spend on entertainment
They enjoy gambling and the excitement; gambling is fun
They are offered free transportation, inexpensive meals, free tokens
It is a break from their routine; they may be bored
They enjoy the social interaction and they may be lonely
They have raised their family and their children may have moved away and they may be lonely
They may have lost their spouse and friends and are lonely
Other reasons?

5. Commercial Gambling in Minnesota
More than 3,000 lottery retail outlets
More than 3,000 charitable gambling sites
18 tribal casinos
Two racetracks with card rooms
Advertising on television, radio, newspaper, billboards, and at sporting events

6. Research Questions
How many older Minnesota adults gamble and how many gamble often?
What forms of gambling do older Minnesota adults play and which do they play often?
Is gambling among older Minnesota adults on the rise?
How does gambling among older Minnesotans compare to younger adult Minnesotans?
Why do older Minnesotans gamble?
What are the risks/costs and benefits of gambling for older Minnesota adults?
How many older Minnesota adults are considered problem gamblers, that is, how big of an issue is problem gambling among older Minnesota adults?

7. To answer the first four Questions: MN State Lottery annual survey
The first methodological issue is defining who is old
Don Feeney and Todd Maki have used generations in their reports
People in each generation have a shared experience that influences their attitudes and behavior, including gambling attitudes and behavior
There are three older adult generations:
“Greatest Generation” or “GI Generation” born between 1901 and 1924 and are over 90 years old in 2015
“Builders Generation” or “Silent Generation” born between 1925 and 1945 and are ages 70 to 90 in 2015
“Baby Boomers” born between 1946 and 1964 and are ages 51 to 69 in 2015

8. MN State Lottery Samples from 2014 to 2005
Year
Younger
N (%)
Boomers
Builders
Greatest/GI
2014
990 (56.7)
528 (30.2)
213 (12.2)
15 (0.9)
2013
1,031 (52.9)
633 (32.5)
269 (13.8)
14 (0.7)
2012
937 (51.0)
619 (33.7)
265 (14.4)
18 (1.0)
2011
924 (49.4)
647 (34.6)
273 (14.6)
27 (1.5)
2010
1,031 (52.1)
611 (30.9)
306 (15.4)
32 (1.6)
2009
948 (48.6)
656 (33.6)
311 (16.0)
34 (1.8)
2008
874 (46.8)
654 (35.0)
302 (16.2)
37 (2.0)
2007
902 (46.4)
663 (34.1)
321 (16.5)
57 (2.9)
2006
843 (44.2)
673 (35.3)
329 (17.2)
63 (3.3)
2005
827 (43.9)
651 (34.6)
349 (18.5)
56 (2.8)

9. MN State Lottery Samples from 2004 to 1997
Year
Younger
N (%)
Boomers
Builders
Greatest/GI
2004
790 (40.6)
722 (37.1)
345 (17.7)
88 (4.5)
2003
769 (40.2)
699 (36.6)
355 (18.5)
90 (4.7)
2002
751 (38.1)
721 (36.6)
384 (19.5)
113 (5.8)
2001
719 (36.5)
744 (37.7)
375 (19.0)
134 (6.8)
2000
Not Available
1999
637 (27.5)
899 (38.8)
572 (24.7)
210 (9.1)
1998
612 (26.0)
941 (40.1)
593 (25.2)
204 (8.7)
1997
556 (23.8)
1,016 (43.5)
566 (24.2)
200 (8.5)

10. MN State Lottery Survey Gambling Items
During the last 12 months, how often have you done these activities?
bet on a horse race?
played a slot machine?
bet on a sports event?
played bingo for money?
purchased a raffle ticket from a charity or non-profit organization?
played dice for money?
played card games for money?
played card games at the card club at a Minnesota race track?
played card games for money at a casino?
played cards for money on the Internet?
played cards for money in a tournament at a bar or restaurant?
played cards for money somewhere else, like at home with friends?
visited any kind of casino for gambling or any other reason?

11. MN State Lottery Survey Gambling Items continued
played a slot machine or video game at a casino in Minnesota or surrounding states?
played blackjack at a casino in Minnesota or surrounding states?
played poker at a casino in Minnesota or surrounding states?
played pulltabs?
played bingo for money?
played card games for money?
purchased a Minnesota lottery ticket?

12. MN State Lottery Gambling Frequency Items
Lottery (2005 to 2014)
Casino (2005 to 2014)
Pull tabs (2005 to 2011)
Response options:
(1) not in past year
(2) once a year or more
(3) once a month or more
(4) once a week or more
(5) daily

13. How many older adults gamble
How many older adults gamble? (any game) Is gambling among older adults on the rise? (any game) How do older adults compare to younger adults?

14. How many forms of gambling do older adults play
How many forms of gambling do older adults play? How do older adults compare to younger adults?

15. What games do older adults play
What games do older adults play? How do older adults compare to younger adults?

16. How many older adults gamble often. What games do they play often
How many older adults gamble often? What games do they play often? How do older adults compare to younger adults?

17. Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise
Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise? (lottery) How do older adults compare to younger adults?

18. Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise
Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise? (casino) How do older adults compare to younger adults?

19. Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise
Is older adult frequent gambling on the rise? (pull tabs) How do older adults compare to younger adults?

20. What games do older adults play often
What games do older adults play often? (Baby Boomers) Is older adult gambling on the rise? (Baby Boomers)

21. What games do older adults play often
What games do older adults play often? (Builder/Greatest) Is older adult gambling on the rise? (Builder/Greatest)

22. Research Questions Revisited with Answers
How many older Minnesota adults gamble and how many gamble often?
Answer: In 2014, 77% of Boomers and 60% of Builders/Greatest/GI had gambled in the past year; 11.4% of Boomers and 9.4% of Builders/Greatest/GI had gambled once a week or more on the Lottery
What forms of gambling do older Minnesota adults play and which do they play often?
Answer: Older adults play all forms of gambling and lottery and casino are the most popular and the lottery is played most often
Is gambling among older Minnesota adults on the rise?
Answer: No, gambling by older adults is not on the rise and appears to be relatively stable

23. Research Questions Revisited with Answers
How does gambling among older Minnesotans compare to younger adult Minnesotans?
Answer: Older adults participate in fewer forms of gambling than younger adults; Baby Boomers (77%) and Younger (75%) adults had similar proportions who have gambled in the past year in 2014, whereas Builders/Greatest/GI had a lower rate (60%) who gambled in the past year; more older adults engage in weekly or more frequent lottery, casino, and pull tab gambling than younger adults
Why do older Minnesotans gamble?
Answer: They have the time; disposable income to spend on entertainment; they enjoy gambling and the excitement; gambling is fun; they like the free transportation, inexpensive meals, free tokens; gambling is a break from their routine; they may be bored; they enjoy the social interaction and they may be lonely; they have raised their family and they may have moved away and are lonely; they may have lost their spouse and friends and are lonely

24. Questions about Older Minnesota Adult Gambling
What are the risks/costs and benefits of gambling for older Minnesota adults?
How many older Minnesota adults are considered problem gamblers, that is, how big of an issue is problem gambling among older Minnesota adults?

25. Gambling Risks/Costs for Older Adults
Financial Risks, particularly for older adults who may be on a fixed income and who, at their advanced age, would not be able to earn back money lost gambling
Spending more money than intended and/or spending money gambling that is earmarked for other purposes
Spending excessive amounts of time to the detriment of social relations
Risk of becoming addicted to gambling
Other risks/costs?

26. Gambling Benefits for Older Adults
Social interaction
Low-cost nutritious meals at casinos
Gambling is a way to pass the time for older adults
Break from their routine and a change of scenery from their senior living residence
Intellection stimulation; some forms of gambling involve mental computations of odds; some forms of gambling involve memory and the use of systems that require cognitive activity, all of which keep the mind functioning and stimulated; use it or lose it
Hope and Havir (2002) studied MN older adults and found social benefits of trips to the casino, including socializing with friends, eating meals with friends, curiosity was stimulated, and a fun way to pass the time

27. How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers?
Laundergan et al did a survey of MN adults in 1990 and 0.9% of adults scored five or more on the SOGS
Laundergan et al did a second survey in 1994 and 1.2% of adults scored five or more on the SOGS
Laundergan compared older adults (55+) to younger adults (18-24) and found that older adults had a lower rate of “increasing consequences/probable pathological gambling” as indicated by a score of three or more on the SOGS than young adults: 14.3% for older adults vs. 20% for year olds
They also found that age was negatively correlated with level of problem gambling, that is, older adults were less likely to experience/report gambling problems

28. How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers?
Since we do not have studies of older Minnesota adult rates of problem gambling we must look to other studies
National Gambling Impact and Behavior Study (1999) reported that adults aged 65 and older had the lowest rate of problem and pathological gambling, less than 1%
In a systematic review of older adult gambling, Tse, et al (2012) found a range of 0.3% to 2.7% in community samples, to 3.8% in senior centers, and 11% for older adults sampled at gambling venues
In another systematic review, Subramaniam et al (2015), found a range in population-based prevalence rates of current PG from 0% (Welte et al 2001) to 1.2% (Wiebe & Cox, 2005)
Much of the range in estimates is due to different methodologies, namely sampling, definition of older adult, and diagnostic tools

29. How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers?
Another source of data to answer this question is gambling treatment studies. There have been two gambling treatment outcome studies in Minnesota.
The first one was from 1992 to 1995 and recruited 1,249 adults from six state-supported treatment programs
The second was from 2006 to 2007 and recruited 444 adults from eleven state-supported treatment providers
These studies cannot be considered to be comprehensive numbers of MN older adults in gambling treatment because there are other treatment resources besides the state-supported providers

30. How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers
How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers? Older adults in MN State-supported gambling treatment ;
Year
Younger
N (%)
Boomers
Builders
Greatest/GI
Minnesota Gambling Treatment Study,
1992 (n=175)
28 (16%)
102 (58%)
44 (25%)
1 (1%)
1993 (n=270)
43 (16%)
176 (65%)
50 (18%)
1 (0.4%)
1994 (n=427)
83 (19%)
272 (64%)
71 (17%)
1 (0.2%)
1995 (n=377)
82 (22%)
236 (63%)
57 (15%)
2 (0.5%)
Minnesota Gambling Treatment Study,
2006 (n=274)
124 (45%)
132 (48%)
18 (7%)
2007 (n=170)
64 (38%)
97 (57%)
9 (5%)

31. How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers
How many older Minnesota adults are problem gamblers? Older adults in MN State-supported gambling treatment ;

32. Research Questions Revisited with Answers
What are the risks/costs and benefits of gambling for older Minnesota adults?
Answer: Financial Risks, particularly for older adults who may be on a fixed income and who, at their advanced age, would not be able to earn back money lost gambling; spending more money than intended and/or spending money gambling that is earmarked for other purposes; spending excessive amounts of time to the detriment of social relations; becoming addicted to gambling; Benefits include: Social interaction; low-cost nutritious meals at casinos; gambling is a way to pass the time for older adults; a break from their routine and a change of scenery from their senior living residence; intellection stimulation
How many older Minnesota adults are considered problem gamblers, that is, how big of an issue is problem gambling among older Minnesota adults?
Answer: Less than 1%, however, older MN adults make up a larger proportion of people in treatment for Gambling Disorder.

33. Future Research Directions
How much time and money do older adults spend on gambling?
Do existing diagnostic instruments work for older adults?
Do current gambling treatment models work for older adults?
What variables serve as risk and protective factors for older adults that could have implications for public awareness and prevention?
Conduct regular surveys of gambling and problem gambling rates among older adults and include assessment of time and money spent gambling

34. Concerns Identified in this Study
First, there is a small segment of the older adult population that are frequent gamblers and these rates are higher than younger adults
Second, given that most older adults are on fixed incomes, consider safeguards and policies to protect older adults from potential financial risks of gambling, particularly older adults who may be experiencing cognitive decline and poor decision making

35. Recommendations
Teach older adults that if they choose to gamble, they need to follow guidelines about time and money in order to avoid negative consequences of gambling
Teach older adults about the warning signs of problem gambling
Develop and evaluate older adult gambling awareness and prevention programs

36. Final Thoughts
For most older adults, gambling is a harmless pastime, however, the risk exists that gambling may develop into problem gambling, and therefore, they require information about the inherent risks of gambling
The goal is that within the context of easy access to gambling, we will provide resources to older adults to assist them in making healthy and informed decisions about their gambling

37. For more information
Contact Randy Stinchfield, Ph.D.:
References:
Emerson, M. O., and Laundergan, J. C. (1996). Gambling and problem gambling among adult Minnesotans: Changes 1990 to Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(3),
Emerson, M. O., Laundergan, J. C., and Schaefer, J. M. (1994). Adult survey of Minnesota problem gambling behavior: A needs assessment: Changes 1990 to Duluth, MN: Center for Addiction Studies, University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Feeney, D., & Maki, T. (1997). Age, generational membership and their effect on gambling behavior and attitudes. Roseville, MN: Minnesota State Lottery.
Laundergan, J. C., Schaeffer, J. M., Eckhoff, K. F., and Pirie, P. L. (1990). Adult survey of Minnesota gambling behavior: A benchmark Duluth, MN: Center for Addiction Studies, University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Minnesota State Lottery (1994). Gambling behavior and attitudes. Roseville, MN: Minnesota State Lottery.

38. How do older adults compare to younger adults? (lottery)

39. How do older adults compare to younger adults? (casino)