Most seniors keep within these boundaries and are able to keep their gambling under control. You are right, however, that gambling can be addictive. Many elderly people have had only limited experience with gambling and don't realize it can become a problem for them. The reasons that gambling is such an attractive form of entertainment for older adults also make seniors especially vulnerable to becoming addicted. Retirement brings a loss of income and reduction in lifestyle, which some seniors believe they can regain through gambling winnings.
Money is seen as a way to reclaim their lost status.
The opportunity that gambling provides to escape their problems for awhile becomes an irresistible drive to escape them all the time. The many losses the elderly experience in their lives can lead to depression, which is temporarily relieved by their gambling. When seniors become heavily involved in gambling, signs of problem gambling may become noticeable to their friends and family. As their losses mount, seniors have an increased need for money. They may take out secret loans or dip into their pensions or cash in their life insurance policies.