Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health & Aging Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2005, Vol 8, No 1

March 6, 2005, marks the beginning of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (NPGAW), a time set aside to heighten awareness of the impacts of problem/compulsive gambling, a growing social health concern in Florida and across the country.

For many seniors, gambling is an escape from boredom brought on by an increase of unstructured time after retirement or even following the death of a spouse or other loved one. Others may be lonely with a limited support system. As a result, many elders may turn to gambling, not only as a social activity, but also as a means of trying to deal with the time, grief, or loss associated with aging.

A 2003 study among elders, sponsored by the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) and built upon the work of the organization's "National Think Tank on Older Adults and Gambling," revealed that 92% have been involved in some form of gambling and more than 650,000, or one out of every 20, report having a problem due to gambling. As the number of older adults who participate in gambling on a regular basis grows, so grows the number of those who will develop varying levels of associated problems. In Florida's older adult and retirement communities, an increasing percentage, of residents, is developing serious gambling problems at a time in their lives when recouping financial losses can be very difficult.

More recent research, published in the current edition of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychology, indicates that 11% of seniors are at risk, defined as placing more than $100 on a single bet or betting more than they can afford to lose. This represents a very large number of seniors who are foregoing other needs or creating debt as a result of their participation in gambling.

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week offers an ideal opportunity for organizations to play an important role in the effort to raise awareness of this significant and growing problem among seniors as well as those working with this population. The following is a partial list of activities in which your organization can participate during March 6-12:

Display and distribute materials such as brochures and newsletters (all materials to be provided by the FCCG).
Post a banner on your website to link to the FCCG website.
Include information in your agency/organizational print publications distributed prior to or during NPGAW.

In addition, we encourage you to incorporate problem gambling awareness into any activities you may already have scheduled. The FCCG will be pleased to participate in any joint endeavors by providing speakers and/or other resources. We also encourage readers to visit the Council's website at www.gamblinghelp.org to learn more about our agency's services and programs.

Please contact the FCCG (phone: 888-ADMIT-IT or email: fccg@gamblinghelp.org) to discuss how our organizations can work together to make the National Problem Gambling Awareness Week a success in Florida.