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Date: 11/9/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD – According to Amy Gabrila of GameSense, senior citizens are an important demographic to the gambling industry, but there are things senior should know about gambling in order to avoid problems.
Gabrila appeared at the West Springfield Senior Center on Oct. 14 as part of the Council on Aging’s “Learn & Lunch” series designed to educate older adults on a variety of important topics.
According to its website, gamesensema.com, “Introduced by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation in 2009, GameSense has earned international recognition such as the World Lottery Association’s Best Overall Responsible Gambling Program (2010), and the U.S.-based National Council on Problem Gambling’s Social Responsibility Award (2015). In addition to being licensed and piloted at MGM Resorts International casino properties, the program has been also implemented by the Connecticut Lottery and Canadian provinces Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.”
GameSense runs programs in all three Massachusetts casinos to prevent gambling problems.
Gabrila gave a pointed message: gamble for fun and set and keep to your limits.
Gabrila said, “Don’t ever let winning money be your prime motivation.” She stressed that playing slots or table games should be for “fun and entertainment.”
Gabrila has worked for GameSense for seven years, but she also has experience on the other side. She spent 17 years in the gambling industry across the country as a table games dealer, supervisor, pit manager and shift manager.
Quoting statistics from 2013, the most recent year they are available, she said that 32 percent of seniors who gamble do it to make money, while 27 percent participate for entertainment. Eighteen percent do it to support worthy causes, 15 percent are there for socialization and 4 percent go to casinos to escape emotions or problems.
Before Massachusetts opened the three casinos, she said 61 percent of seniors played the state lottery, while only 20 percent went to casinos in other states.
She said seniors are a “valuable demographic” for casinos, and added, “You’re the bread and butter … these guys [the gambling industry] want to make you happy.”
Gabrila said achieving a “big win” should be enjoyed rather than have it change a person’s gambling habits.
Contrary to what some people think, there is no such thing as a “hot” slot machine, she stressed. Today’s slot machines operate on a completely random basis. Just because a machine has not delivered a win, doesn’t mean it’s “due” to have one. She added the state Gaming Commission checks all slot machines in Massachusetts monthly to make sure they are working properly.
To play “happy and healthy,” Gabrila offered a set of guidelines: set a limit of both money and time to be spent; take breaks; remember it’s OK to leave with money; and balance gambling with other activities. Leaving one’s ATM card at home is one way to enforce a budget, she added.
She also offered several conditions to watch for, as they might indicate a problem. If a person sees gambling becoming a preoccupation or if a person in betting in increasingly larger amounts, that could mean a person is struggling. Additional indicators include if a person is chasing losses, feeling restlessness or anger or is borrowing money in order to play.
She added that 8 percent of seniors are considered “at risk” for a gambling problem, and 1.6 percent meet the criteria for gambling disorders.
Gabrila urged the seniors to visit the GameSense office at MGM Springfield, which is adjacent to the gambling floor, to talk about any issue regarding gambling.
According to the GameSense website, seniors thinking they might have a problem have options. They can consider the voluntary self-exclusion program; call 800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist — the helpline is available 24 hours a day, is free, confidential and available in multiple languages; learn about outpatient treatment centers offered through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; or find a self-help group for seniors going through the same problems.