Senior citizens gambling Social Security income

I see more seniors at casinos, than any other age group. Many playing their only income, Social Security. Such as myself.

Welcome Veenie11 ,

Gambling is a no-win situation for one reason : the money becomes nothing but food for the addiction . Winning or losing no longer matters - the compulsion is simply to keep gambling . We end up paying hundreds and thousands of dollars in order to continue to be "entertained" and believe in the false promise that we have "a chance" to make some money . Once the addiction progresses ( and it will ...this is virtually guaranteed for a gambling addict) , the compulsion to keep pumping money into the gamble will become stronger and stronger.

If you are a slot machine player , be aware that the flashing lights and audio stimulation are designed to boost your brain's feel-good chemical response , which is dopamine . Once your brain gets used to these higher levels of dopamine , it begins to crave it as desperately as any drug addict craves heroin . Anything that isn't gambling seems dull and boring . The urge to go and gamble becomes constant and relentless .

I highly recommend Gamblers Anonymous . It is an excellent source of support for your decision to stop gambling . We will also help you any way we can . It's never to late to stop the destruction .

Thank you so much, Sun, for your response. I live in upstate NY. In a small town. The closest GA, is half hour away. And, I don’t drive. I also have clinical depression.

-- Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:24 am --

Thank you so much, Sun, for your response. I live in upstate NY. In a small town. The closest GA, is half hour away. And, I don’t drive. I also have clinical depression.

Welcome, Veenie. I also have seen many elderly in casinos, gambling away their SS checks. In fact, the Blackjack dealers told me that on the days that Social Security checks come in, the casino is very busy.
Perhaps if you confide in a friend or family member about your gambling addiction, the person would help you get to the GA meeting. May I ask, how do you get to the casino? Do you take the bus or do you go with someone?

Consider gambling as losing. You have zero chance of coming out ahead. Try to get to a GA meeting, to turn your life around.

My daughter, and another friend. My daughter is gambling addicted,also . I’m going to find a way to get there. Are you going to the GA in your area? Thank you so much.

This is sad.

Im so glad I have stopped and Im addressing my recovery now as I would be at this point when old and really want to avoid at all cost.

Stay far away, all the freebies that the casinos dole out to the elderly (free transportation, meal & drink voucher, free play, free rooms etc) are just entrapment. Once they are hooked, that free cup of coffee can cost $500, what a rip off.

I'm reminded of 2 stories:

1) A friend once commented on one of those bus trips to a casino: On the way up, most everyone is excited and chattering away.....but on the way back, the silence is deafening.

2) I've told this one before: A co-worker of mine had a friend who must have been a pretty big gambler, because he had an open invitation to a Vegas Casino anytime with comps of airfare, lodging and food for he and his wife. Whenever his wife didn't want to go, he would ask this co-worker friend if he wanted to go and take advantage of the free comps. Well, after a few times going up with him, my friend finally turned him down the last time, saying, "I can't afford these free trips anymore."

Veenie11 wrote:My daughter, and another friend. My daughter is gambling addicted,also . I’m going to find a way to get there. Are you going to the GA in your area? Thank you so much.

Hi, Veenie, I only go to GA occasionally now. But I found them helpful for years. I like this group online and found it to be very helpful.