Cheap Bus Tours for Seniors

In this blog post I am going to examine gambling addictions specifically among the aging population, sharing a personal story that enables this addiction through casino tour groups popular with seniors in our country. It is no secret that gambling is a big part of society today. Casinos are popping up all over the country and luring in gamblers with a variety of offers. Big name performers are featured at many casinos in the hopes that those attending the concerts will spend some time at the slots or tables prior to, or after, the performance. Special rates on hotel rooms attached to these casinos are offered at a hard to refuse price, transportation is easily arranged and bus tours provide a mini vacation. How can you refuse, especially if you are a retired senior living on a limited income? As gambling participation increases, the rate of pathological gambling in old adults might also increase, thus making them an “at-risk population group” (Philippe  & Vallerand, 2007, p. 276).

There are several factors that need to be considered when comparing the gambling of all adults with the specific population of seniors over the age of 65 years. Also issues around policy need to be different with an aging population because there are challenges that arise different from other demographics (Neysmith, 2003). This is important because policies are used to guide decisions and “as people age the quality of their lives is affected by a range of social policies” (Neysmith, 2003, p. 182). Statistically seniors have less contact with supports and therefore problems with gambling are harder to notice and also harder to treat (CAMH, 2006).

As documented, seniors report many reasons for gambling including “socialization, a chance to support charities, escape from their problems, and a chance to win money” (CAMH, 2006, p. 31). I believe a large number of seniors are trying to block out problems in their lives, encompassing loneliness, pain due to failing health, or a personal loss such as the death of a spouse. However, who can deny the thrill you would have when you win big, with all the bells and whistles. This would produce an adrenaline rush you would yearn to repeat. For the majority of seniors, this behaviour is manageable; however many seniors have lost control over gambling and “problem gambling can lead to loss of savings, rent, mortgage payments or property. Seniors may feel desperate and hopeless” (Lynch, 2005, p. 30). Older adults “are involved more than ever in gambling activities... [and] gambling is one of the most frequently reported social activities by older adults” (Philippe & Vallerand, 2007, p. 276). Excessive gambling may translate into mental health problems such as depression. Seniors addicted to gambling “scored higher on measures of loneliness and psychiatric symptoms, and reported lower levels of social supports” (Pietrzak & Petry, 2006, p. 110). Unfortunately, I have noticed that gambling in turn can lead to other addictions, such as substance abuse, as a form of coping with the long term effects of this problem.

Gambling is a very serious addiction that affects the lives of many people and according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, there is also a risk to physical health because of the repetitive nature of gambling, especially with limited or no activity for older adults gambling for several hours (CAMH, 2006). Documented in the article printed by the Ontario Citizen; “many older clients were accompanied by their hospital-issue oxygen tanks” (Landon, 2006, p. D3).  According to the CAMH (2006), seniors had greater opportunities to gamble considering most of the seniors are retired and many are targeted by bus tour groups because of this issue (Landon).

 For the small community in which I was raised, the truths about seniors gambling addictions and attractive casino tours are all too real. It is apparent that there is an increase in gambling in the elderly population in our community and according to Pietrzak & Petry (2006), a survey “found that the percentage of older adults who ever gambled increased from 35% in 1975 to 80% in 1998. A total 0.4% of this sample was identified as pathological gamblers and 0.7% as problem gamblers” (p. 106).

I am going to share a story of a family friend who is in the habit of taking frequent casino bus tours to the United States. My friend is over the age of 75 years and she recently lost her husband. These trips tend to last 3-4 days and she quite often goes every other week. Her safety and wellbeing is important to her family and friends so they know the frequency of her gambling vacations. From all observations it would seem that she is addicted; however she will not allow anyone to use those words to describe her leisure activity. She spends as much time as she can in the casino, frequently not going to bed until closing, in the early morning hours. She has never taken the opportunity to leave the casino and see the local attractions, so her days are spent surrounded by four walls sitting in front of the machines. When she returns from these trips she quite often complains of aches and pains in her back and arms. Most people are quite vocal about their winnings, but you never hear of how much money it took to get that. My friend is very secretive about both and will not talk about either how much she spends or how much she wins. Most of the time, these gamblers are so far behind it is impossible to catch up on winnings over spendings.

In terms of the logistics behind the bus tours are the fact that the tours are unbelievable cheap; enabling frequent visits with more money to spend gambling. It is obvious that the bus tours are sponsored by the casinos and hotels. It is beneficial to them to take a loss on the room and transportation as they make it up exponentially on gambling losses and often liquor sales. Normally, there would be no way a four day trip with complete accommodations, bus ride, and most meals could be covered with less than $200.00. To top it all off, many casinos offer frequent visit cards that promise $50.00 back after you spend at least $50.00 of your own money. But it is left unspoken that most people will spend far beyond this $50.00 limit. Tour organizers call nearly weekly to remind their frequent senior visitors of the upcoming tour dates. Unfortunately many of them attend every other week. Several people who have gone on these bus tours, comment to the fact that the majority of the faces in the bus seats are women. This is also supported in the newspaper article Golden Age Gambling: Seniors are Taking up Gambling, and Getting Hooked, Warns Laura Landon, stating that “the slots have a tendency to be designed for seniors and women. They have a tendency to like them better" (Landon, 2006, p. D3).

It is not hard to see how one could get hooked to bus tours trips considering all of the amenities and bonuses offered with an already affordable trip. According to a newspaper article, the resistance of these luxury services are impossible to refuse. “With carefully pitched offers of free food, transportation and a cosy social environment, gambling is growing among seniors while gaming addictions trail not far behind, say counsellors and addiction experts. Seniors are encouraged to gamble” (Landon, 2006, p. D3). Gambling addictions cannot readily be seen and addicts can keep their addiction hidden for years, secretly spending money saved over a lifetime and earmarked for the golden years.

-Darcie B.

Reference List

Landon, L. (2000, December 16). Golden age gambling: Seniors are taking up gambling, and getting hooked, warns Laura Landon. The Ontario Citizen, p. D3, Retrieved from http://proxycheck.lib.umanitoba.ca.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/libraries/online/proxy.php?http://proquest.umi.com.proxy1.lib.umanitoba.ca/pqdweb?did=201504781&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=12305&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Lynch, M. (2005). Problem Gambling. Family Health, 21(3), p. 30- 31.

Neysmith, S. (2003). Caring and aging: Exposing the policy issues. In A. Westhues (Ed.), Canadian social policy: Issues and perspectives (pp. 182-199). Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

Philippe, F., & Vallerand, R. J. (2007). Prevalence rates of gambling problems in Montreal, Canada: A look at old adults and the role of passion. Springer Science and Business Media, 23, p. 275-283.

Pietrzak, R. H., & Petry, N. M. (2006). Severity of Gambling problems and psychosocial functioning in older adults. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 19, p. 106-113.

The CAMH Healthy Aging Project Team. (2006). Responding to older adults with substance use, mental health, and gambling challenges. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, p. 1-45.