Exploring gambling among seniors in rural British Columbia: sociodemographic and mental health correlates

Despite the potentially serious consequences related to gambling behaviour, few studies have focused on gambling among seniors. The present study collected sociodemographic and problem gambling data from a sample of seniors in a northern community. Participants were categorized according to sub-groups of problem gambling severity and were screened for mental disorders using two validated measures. Comparisons were conducted across groups based on sociodemographic and gambling-related variables. Additional statistical tests were then performed to evaluate differences across groups on mental disorders. This exploratory study provides insight into the nature of gambling among seniors through an examination of sociodemographic characteristics, motivations for gambling, and the prevalence of concurrent mental health disorders. Given the aging population in Canada, and the widespread availability of gambling activities, this study has important clinical implications for the screening and treatment of seniors who gamble, and provides valuable information that expands the field of gambling research.'