As we age, we tend to be less vigilant about our eating habits or bad habits. If there are no guardians around, such as family or home help, seniors can easily lose control of their daily lives and indulge in gambling activities without realizing the risks.
We don't know it, but addiction phenomena can also affect the wisest among us, and our grandparents who sometimes have more time and money are potential targets for all kinds of excesses, including those of online gambling.
Add to that the fact that seniors are now real jacks-of-all-trades, and stay in the game longer. Whether it's going out to the casino or registering on online gambling platforms, it would be wrong to think that they are not legion! Here are the instructions for spotting a senior addict.
43% of seniors over 65 are online!
With 53 million Internet users in Norway, the digital world affects everyone and now, we meet players of all ages! Although the figures show a minority practice with only 35% of seniors using their smartphone to connect to the Internet, and therefore potentially 6% of them are real fans of games from their mobile, we are still witnessing a real boom in activity: 11 million Norway Internet users are seniors! Many of them play in unlicensed casinos, which in Norway are called beste norsk online casino.
In fact, when they retire, the leisure boom is back in full swing! And many clubs of the 3rd age or associations of district propose to train the young seniors to the joys of the computer. Very often, at first, our loved ones drag their feet, claiming that it's not their time, but little by little, as they acquire more autonomy and especially confidence, the seniors gather the key information to surf in turn on the great spider web of the Web where, for example, so-called "cognitive" games flourish.
11% of online gamers are seniors
As far as the detection of a possible pathological game is concerned, what should alert us is precisely this famous time spent on the Internet. That is to say that if it is increasing, beyond the 2h25 spent per day on average by the Norway in 2020, and that the elderly person does not know how to pick up the phone anymore by only talking about finishing the game or replaying the bets, it is there that we must put the halt. Especially since seniors do not always know how to determine their own limits! And as they say, "time is money", one third of 65 to 75 year olds have played at least once in the year in a game where their budget comes into serious consideration!
They are also not necessarily aware of the terms and conditions of online casino bonuses https://norskecasinoportal.com/norgesautomaten, and how to get the most out of playing JHA (gambling). After having treated the addiction with a psychotherapist, a discussion group, SOS Joueurs or the ANJ (National Gaming Authority), we can really help them regain the benefits of gambling while freeing them from the drawbacks!
What are their main risk factors when it comes to gambling?
- Lack of experience on the Internet: More inclined to relay fake news according to a study by Science Advances, "silver surfers" do not always distinguish between good gaming platforms and possible scams. To compensate for this, there is nothing like playing in multiplayer mode or in transgenerational mode to turn the most novice into an expert! Because in this matter, prevention is better than cure, with the help of teenagers and other geeks!
- Greater loneliness: PMU bars and scratch card or lottery ticket sales outlets are friendly places for people who may find retirement a challenge. Casinos are also a place where seniors can have fun and escape from boredom. The danger arises when the elderly person no longer distinguishes between pleasure and addiction, and when gambling, which was initially a means of escape, becomes a source of suffering, with the attendant risks of debt. Beware also of the depression that excessive gambling can mask!
- The uncontrolled lure of gain: we must not delude ourselves, but 62% admit to gambling to make money. Many use it to supplement a small pension. However, gambling is never a panacea, the results are always random, and we must be alerted when the elderly person spends without counting the cost by dipping into their life savings. The best thing to do is to determine with the senior a predetermined budget that he or she can devote to his or her passion with peace of mind.
In short, gambling appeals to seniors for the thrill and adrenaline, but also and above all to pass the time! When they hit the jackpot, it's like a rejuvenating cure, and you can't blame them for that!
