Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet!
This article aims to alert geriatricians and gerontologists about the risks of gambling among older adults. Although institutionalized gambling has existed in Brazil since the golden age of casinos, despite being a recreational activity not everyone gambles in a healthy way. Some people’s gambling b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/en_v19e0000304.pdf |
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| _version_ | 1849434662654443520 |
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| author | Cecília Galetti Hermano Tavares |
| author_facet | Cecília Galetti Hermano Tavares |
| author_sort | Cecília Galetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article aims to alert geriatricians and gerontologists about the risks of gambling among older adults. Although institutionalized gambling has existed in Brazil since the golden age of casinos, despite being a recreational activity not everyone gambles in a healthy way. Some people’s gambling becomes problematic and they lose control of their behavior, resulting in a gambling disorder, which could lead to financial, emotional, social, and health damage. Currently, the abundance and easy access to online gambling seems to have increased the risk of problem gambling for vulnerable groups, and we are already experiencing a national epidemic of gambling disorder. Older people may be included in this group, since they present some risk factors for problem gambling, such as a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, social isolation, and feelings of loneliness. Gambling to relieve a dysphoric mood is a diagnostic criterion for gambling disorder. Because government surveys have shown the extent of older adult participation in online gambling, geriatricians and gerontologists should not disregard the real risk that older people may develop problematic gambling patterns — even online —, and these specialists should pay attention to certain signs and behaviors. The Lie/Bet Questionnaire is recommended for screening problem gambling behavior and can facilitate care for older adults with gambling problems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec9388bb84b147aeba531ebb9f73cada |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2447-2123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec9388bb84b147aeba531ebb9f73cada2025-08-20T03:26:34ZengBrazilian Society of Geriatrics and GerontologyGeriatrics, Gerontology and Aging2447-21232025-06-01191510.53886/gga.e0000304_ENGambling and older adults: there is no safe bet!Cecília Galetti0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1482-7212Hermano Tavares1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6632-2745Pro-AMITI – Ambulatório Integrado dos Transtornos do Impulso do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo (SP), Brazil.Pro-AMITI – Ambulatório Integrado dos Transtornos do Impulso do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo (SP), Brazil.This article aims to alert geriatricians and gerontologists about the risks of gambling among older adults. Although institutionalized gambling has existed in Brazil since the golden age of casinos, despite being a recreational activity not everyone gambles in a healthy way. Some people’s gambling becomes problematic and they lose control of their behavior, resulting in a gambling disorder, which could lead to financial, emotional, social, and health damage. Currently, the abundance and easy access to online gambling seems to have increased the risk of problem gambling for vulnerable groups, and we are already experiencing a national epidemic of gambling disorder. Older people may be included in this group, since they present some risk factors for problem gambling, such as a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, social isolation, and feelings of loneliness. Gambling to relieve a dysphoric mood is a diagnostic criterion for gambling disorder. Because government surveys have shown the extent of older adult participation in online gambling, geriatricians and gerontologists should not disregard the real risk that older people may develop problematic gambling patterns — even online —, and these specialists should pay attention to certain signs and behaviors. The Lie/Bet Questionnaire is recommended for screening problem gambling behavior and can facilitate care for older adults with gambling problems.https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/en_v19e0000304.pdfolder adultsgamblinglonelinessbrazil |
| spellingShingle | Cecília Galetti Hermano Tavares Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging older adults gambling loneliness brazil |
| title | Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! |
| title_full | Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! |
| title_fullStr | Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! |
| title_short | Gambling and older adults: there is no safe bet! |
| title_sort | gambling and older adults there is no safe bet |
| topic | older adults gambling loneliness brazil |
| url | https://cdn.publisher.gn1.link/ggaging.com/pdf/en_v19e0000304.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ceciliagaletti gamblingandolderadultsthereisnosafebet AT hermanotavares gamblingandolderadultsthereisnosafebet |