The prevalence of problem gambling and gambling-related behaviours among older adults in Ontario

Abstract

As the proportion of Canadians over the age of 55 continues to rise, it accordingly becomes increasingly important to understand the implications that their leisure activities have for their physical and mental health. Gambling is a form of leisure that presents relatively high risk for its participants and remains a popular leisure pursuit among older adults. The current study uses a representative survey of 2,187 adults over the age of 55 in Ontario to explore problem gambling and gambling-related behaviours among older adults. The findings show that 1.8% of the population over the age 55 were classified as experiencing moderate-to-severe problem gambling. While differences across sex were observed in types of gambling, attitudes towards gambling, and frequency of gambling, no significance difference in problem gambling was observed. Findings are discussed in relation to previous findings on older adults’ gambling patterns and their implications for mental, physical and financial well-being.