Seniors and Gambling in British Columbia The Canadian Approach
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Seniors and Gambling in British Columbia
The Canadian Approach
April 1999
Prepared For: Senior Gambling—A Growing Concern
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on Senior Gambling
Prepared By: Kathie Neufeld
Provincial Problem Gambling Consultant for Seniors
In Collaboration with: Jane Burke
Provincial Problem Gambling Consultant for Women
Canadian seniors are diverse. They have different interests and cultural ethnic
backgrounds. They have varied levels of health, fitness, income, and assets. As people
move through these "Golden Years" their needs preferences change. So will their
demand for greater choices of recreational activities, interests and support services.
An Increasing Population
Today in Canada the fastest growing sector of the population is individuals aged
65+, or “seniors”. In 1998 there were 3.7 million Canadians age 65+, an increase of 60%
from the 2.4 million 65+ in 1981. This older population has grown more than twice as fast
as the overall population since the early 1980’s. Today more than one out of every 10
Canadians is a senior. Statistics Canada has projected that by 2021 there will be almost
7 million seniors representing 18% of the total population. Of the current 3.7 million
seniors in Canada, the majority currently reside in one of the Canada’s four largest
Provinces. 84% of Canadian seniors live in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, or British
Columbia.
Those Canadians today aged 65 - 74, in the areas of physical ability, recreational
interests, and community involvement, more closely resemble those under age 65 then
ever before. Subsequently, Canadians in the 75 - 84 age range appear to be in the
period of transition formally associated with those individuals age 65 - 74. It is only the
Canadians age 85+ that are currently most likely to be characterised by the many
conditions associated with old age. This characterisation becomes more significant in
light of the fact that the 85+ age group is the fastest growing segment of the overall
senior population today in Canada.
British Columbia’s Statistics
British Columbia is considered to be the provincial retirement capital of Canada. An
estimated 515,000 seniors 65+ represent 17% of the total population. This 17% is living
longer than ever before with the average life span of women being 81.3 years, and 75.3
years for men. This increase is a reflection of a generation that is healthier, with
heightened viability and quality of life. As of 1965 60% of seniors were engaging in some
form of physical activity at least 3x a week.
The diversity of seniors in British Columbia, culturally and otherwise, is rooted in
number of variables: 44% have immigrated from other provinces in Canada; 32% have
immigrated from other countries (7% from Asia, 25% from Europe and other countries);
58% of the overall 65+ are female; 72% of all seniors 85+ are female; as of 1996 58002
Seniors were Status Indian First Nation which represented 1% of the entire 65+
population.
History of Gambling
Canada
Canada’s relationship with gambling can be traced back to 1882 when the Canadian
Criminal Code first passed legislature prohibiting the keeping of common gaming
houses, conducting lotteries, cheating at play, or gambling in public conveyances. In
1900 this code was adapted to allow for small raffles (not exceeding $50.00 in prizes) at
religious and charitable bazaars. In 1969 came the first major expansion of gaming in
Canada when section 190 of the Canadian Criminal Code was amended to allow
provincial governments to operate lotteries and casinos, or to license charitable or
religious organisations to do so. Many Canadians supported this initial expansion with
the belief that youth sports and many privately funded social programs would flourish
and prosper.
Today in Canada 82% of all households are spending an average of $423.00
annually on some form of gambling (Statistics Canada 1996). All 10 provinces operate
$1,000,000.00 lotteries weekly, host daily Bingo sessions with jackpots in the tens of
thousands, and provide electronic gaming either in the form of Video Lottery Terminals
or Slot Machines.
Gaming Expansion in Canada has also coincided with Problem Gambling Services
and Programs. Within the last 5 years all 10 provinces have begun providing some
measure of problem gambling services with most provinces now having a toll free 24
hour Help Line. Although tracking methods and breakdowns often vary from province to
province this is beginning to provide an initial statistical analysis of senior gamblers in
Canada.
Canada’s Senior Gambler:
• 3.5 % of Help Line callers were aged 55+
• 15.5% played bingo
• 34% gambled in casinos
• 14% played lotteries
• 19% participated in some form of electronic gaming
British Columbia
Legalised gambling provides entertainment for the vast majority of British
Columbian’s. A small number of British Columbian’s experience an array of problems as
a result of their own or someone else’s gambling.
In 1993, as part of its program to monitor the role of gambling in the life of the
province, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation initiated and funded a survey program
to investigate public attitudes toward social gaming and identify the perceived and actual
extent of problem gambling.3
The Social Gaming Survey was conducted jointly by the Angus Reid Group and
Gemini Research, using a 27 minute telephone survey on 1200 British Columbian
adults. This survey looked to investigate public perceptions of problem gambling, and
attitudes toward principle social gaming institutions.
The prevalence study indicated that:
• 2.4% were currently in the problem gambling category
• 1.8% (12,700-42,100 individual British Columbian residents) fell in the probable
pathological category
• bingo, casino, and horsetrack bettors represented the most at risk gaming
segments for problem gambling behaviors.
Forms of familiar gambling activities identified by respondents:
• local casinos
• resort casinos
• raffle tickets
• fund raising events such as casino nights
• B.C. lottery 649
• instant scratch and win tickets
• video poker
• arcade video games
• electronic bingo
• paper bingo
• horetrack races
• dog races and cock fights
• cards with no money at stake
• cards where money is at stake
• local card rooms
• craps or other dice games
• sports betting with friends or co-workers
• sports pools
• sports action lottery game
• sports with a book maker
• pulltabs or nevada break opens
• keno
• speculative investments
• games of skill.
Summary of Key Findings:
• 97% of adults had participated in a gambling or wagering activity.
• 28% of all gamblers were age 65+
• Nearly 2 out of 3 British Columbians participate in some form of gambling on a
weekly basis.
• Casino games account for the largest share of the gambling expenditures,
reflecting large sums spent by a small segment of the population.
• Lottery games are second in overall spending as a result of small expenditures
by a large population of the populous.
• 55+ were the second biggest spenders ($2,055 annually)
With the expansion of various types of license lotteries and gaming activities during
1997 the Ministry for Children and Families received $2,000,000.00 annually, from the4
British Columbian Lottery Corporation, to provide problem gambling programs under the
jurisdiction of Adult and Youth Addiction Services.
Although British Columbia has been the last province in Canada to implement
problem gambling services, it is unique in the high visibility and controversial nature to
increase gambling opportunities, which has made problem gambling a public issue.
British Columbia was the first province to higher provincial consultants for women and
seniors with regional specialists in the areas of youth, aboriginal, and multicultural
groups. Ontario and Manitoba have now followed suit implementing specific consultants
positions to provide prevention and education for senior gamblers.
The Problem Gambling Program also included a 24 hour toll free Help Line. This
crisis line provided information and referrals for gamblers, their families, the general
public, and the professional community. The Help Line provided those individuals unable
to access counselling, do to geographic isolation or unreasonable access to service, to
receive telephone counselling. In the spring of 1998, after consultation between myself
and the Help Line supervisor, the Help Line enhanced it’s data collection by including an
age category for senior callers.
Profile of Senior Gambler in British Columbia
Based on combined findings from the Social Gaming Survey, Help Line callers, and
senior gamblers who have accessed treatment services, we have begun to develop a
clearer profile of the senior gambler in British Columbia. This information is important in
strategic planning for accessing high risk individuals hidden within an ageing subculture.
Profile of British Columbia’s Senior Problem Gambler:
• 70% suffer from chronic pain
• may gamble to create distance from a spouse or relative
• gamble to engage in a leisure activity with spouse
• gamble as a means of asserting independence and freedom from a past or
current controlling relationship
• has an average of 7.7 free hours/day
• has often immigrated to British Columbia
• often engages in sweepstakes by mail as a form of gambling
• may relocate to British Columbia during the winter months only
Implementation of Problem Gambling Services for Seniors
Prior to 1997 there were no problem gambling resources available in British
Columbia, with the exception of one private consulting firm and a limited number of
professionals providing private for fee services. As previously stated, even within its
inception this new problem gambling program was extraordinarily innovative in its
approach, providing an array of services and resources for problem gamblers in every
region throughout the province. This new program was delivered based on the Stages of
Change theories, and from a Harm Reduction philosophy.
Specialised Function of Provincial Consultant5
The position for Provincial Problem Gambling Consultant for Seniors was contracted
to Peace Arch Community Services, a non-profit agency, located in White Rock. Peace
Arch Community Services is a community based, out-patient, multi-service agency.
I received this ambitious position on Nov. 1/97 with the designated objectives of:
providing information and treatment services for seniors and their families; implementing,
developing, and facilitating information and education sessions to professionals and
agencies, community groups, senior outreach programs. The division of these major job
functions were, 75% information, prevention and education, and 25% treatment services.
Information Collection
In order to provide the most copious and prevalent approach I began researching
current literature on Seniors and Problem Gambling. Initially my literature review was
narrow in focus, looking unequivocally for Canadian based articles. Do to the absence of
Canadian based literature, or Canadian professionals focusing primarily on Senior
Gamblers, I then amplified my search to include the United States and other countries
actively providing resources and services for Problem Gamblers. It was in the United
States, that albeit information remained extremely limited, I was fortunate in network with
three other professionals ensuing issues categorical to Seniors and Gambling. These
individuals were: Betty George, from The Minnesota Council on Compulsive Gambling;
Pat Fowler, from The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling; Ron Karpin, from The
Council of Compulsive Gambling Of New Jersey.
Professional networking proved to be invaluable. These professionals generously
shared their experiences, statistical information and resource materials, combined with
proven outreach strategies. They further validated my frustration in locating resources
and literature on or for Senior Gamblers.
Further insight and suggestions for working within the senior population was
obtained from an array of community outreach workers within senior alcohol and drug
programs.
Information Dissemination
While information on Seniors and Problem Gambling was limited, so were resources
for dissemination of information to Seniors. Widespread dissemination was further
hindered by political opposition to a expansive media release announcing the
implementation of Problem Gambling Services and the Help Line. A strategic plan was
developed to disperse to seniors, professionals, agencies, communities, and gaming
venues, educational material on seniors and problem gambling, and the 24 hour toll free
Help Line number.
Initial distribution began in the lower mainland, an area which encompasses
approximately 3,000,000 of the overall 4,000,000 individuals currently residing in British
Columbia. This distribution included a Service Announcement which was dispersed to
the various addiction service agencies, mental health professionals, and several senior
service organisations. Corresponding with the Service Announcement were several
interviews and articles published in small local community newspapers throughout
British Columbia. Liasoning with community senior outreach professionals allowed for
hands on distribution of pamphlets which were adapted to specifically address the
multidimensional issues for seniors gamblers.6
Familiarizing those agencies and self help groups already actively involved in
assisting senior problem gamblers, was the next step. Through in service presentations,
I began to share resources, information, and literature, while establishing a service
network for senior gamblers. These agencies included Gamblers Anonymous, Gam
Anon, Credit Counsellors, Bankruptcy Trustees, Debtors Assistance, Seniors Addiction
Counsellors, and Senior Peer Helpers. Neighbouring with Mental Health was likewise
paramount in assuring the high incidence of suicide and depression among gamblers
was addressed.
Looking for creative and challenging avenues for reaching the still dormant
problematic gamblers among seniors, while also providing a Harm Reduction foundation,
I distributed a “How to Gamble Safely” bulletin, through a local Travel Agency, who
included it in their mail out of advertised gambling tours for seniors.
Provincial Collaboration
Accessing the 1,000,000 individuals residing in the outlying communities was a
colossal task undertaken, after consultation, and in collaboration with, the Provincial
Consultant for Women. Initially we developed a integral plan which encompassed
communities fortunate enough to have readily available Problem Gambling Services, or
communities already in the upsweep of the gaming expansion. We enlisted the
assistance of the Problem Gambling Counsellors and regional specialists located in
these various regions and began delivering professional workshops throughout the
province. To date we have collaboratively delivered workshops to professionals in 9
outlying communities.
Treatment Approaches
My therapeutic work with seniors and their families has been concentrated in the 57 -
84 age range. Although younger family members were often involved in the actual
intervention process.
Therapeutic case management of seniors has included crisis counselling in person
or by telephone, screening and assessment in magnitude of problem, individual
treatment readiness, and appropriate level of intervention. These anterior encounters
have been immeasurable in equipping me with the experience and expertise to work
productively, and compassionately, within the ageing population of problem gamblers.
The gambling activities these senior gamblers have been actively partaking in
include Instant Scratch and Win Tickets, Keno, Lotteries, Parimutuel Wagering, and Slot
Machines.
Telemarketing Scams
The latest and most devastating emergence of gaming among seniors has been
Telemarketing Scams, including lottery mail-in, and lottery telephone scams. These
scam artists are praying on the vulnerability of an ageing population and swindling them
out of life savings. Unfortunately only 1/3 of those seniors swindled will file an official
complaint. Resistance to reporting these instances may be in part do to feelings of
shame and naiveté at being swindled by common criminals. Seniors also are often7
unaware that helping services exist or are available, the most prominent and effective of
which is ”Project Phonebusters.”
Telemarketing fraud has evolved into a sophisticated operation. One common set-up
is the “prize room”, a scam where victims (most often seniors) are promised valuable
prizes if they first purchase the companies product. This product is often an item of little
or no use to the victim which has been significantly marked up in price, or
misrepresented as being of more value than its actual worth. Seniors today are easy
prey for this scam as they are representative of an era when an individuals word was
sacred and truthful. The opportunity of exploitation of seniors is often further augmented
by their social isolation, feelings of aloneness, and day time availability. Many seniors
are spending their daylight hours fending off unwanted pitches.
Client Example:
An adult family member (daughter) contacted the Problem Gambling Program
looking for resources for her father, age 84, who was sending thousands of dollars into
various Telemarketing Scams. The level of helplessness and devastation for any family
involved in this predicament was expressed clearly, by the daughter, in this particular
instance.
“We have no way of stopping this. We have tried every conceivable method of
intervening. We don't want to take away the last thread of independence our father has,
but if this continues be nothing left of his retirement savings.”
Overview
Much work remains to be rendered in the areas of research and awareness in the
arena of ageing gamblers. Is a 68 year old women attending Bingo 5x a week
experiencing problems, is this a social, recreational, exciting, fun form of entertainment?
Is an adult family member genuinely concerned about the senior gamblers mental,
emotional, and social well being, are they simply safe guarding an inheritance they
believe themselves to be entitled to? Why are problem gambling services not utilised as
frequently by seniors as by other age categories? These are only a few of the many
questions arising from the issue of senior gamblers.
In September of 1998 the Canadian Working Group held their first meeting, at the
Interprovincial Gambling Conference in Edmonton, Alberta, to begin bridging the gap in
information surrounding women and senior gamblers. This group is comprised of
concerned professionals from across Canada who are interested in exploring the multi-
faceted issues related to senior and female gamblers. The goal, to collaboratively share
information, resources, and expertise correlated with these two underrepresented
sectors of problem gamblers. Current tasks include the amalgamation of provincial
statistics and a comprehensive literature review.
Vision
Over the last eighteen months British Columbia’s Problem Gambling Program,
despite its many obstacles and limitations, has proven itself to be successful. This
success can be attributed primarily to the co-ordination, innovation, and support it has
received from the Addictions Service office in Victoria.8
During this brief span of time already the emergence of the need for specific Problem
Gambling Services, tailored to the needs of seniors and their families, similarly been
proven.
Within the vast amount of work remaining to be done, my vision for the future
includes targeting the travel and tourism industry, that all seniors anticipating travel
encompassing gaming would be made aware of the risks associated with gambling, and
information on how to gamble safely.
As elder abuse also continues to be an arising phenomenon, I am striving toward
direct collaboration and engagement with the Elder Abuse Network. This would allow for
establishing the direct correlation between abuse of seniors within the gaming
establishment, particularly telemarketing scams, and the financial abuse towards seniors
associated with a family member who is problem gambling.
Thirdly, I intend to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the designation of “The
Year of The Older Person”, by attending and presenting at the numerous conferences
scheduled throughout British Columbia this year.
Finally, it is my hope to provide information to Financial Institutions. Many seniors
who are experiencing financial difficulties pertaining to gambling will initially pursue
financial management services, and yet many of the individuals working within these
professions know little or nothing of the workings of problem gambling.
Closing:
In closing I would like to state my sincere appreciation to those individuals who
mandated that every person, adult or youth, screened for alcohol or drug misuse in
British Columbia, is further screened, using the “G Cage”, for problem gambling. To the
individuals who took the time to return my phone calls, answer questions, and forward
information, your assistance has been invaluable. And to those pioneering professionals
in the forefront of services for seniors and problem gambling, who have taken the time to
fight for a cause many thought to be non-existent, I commend you.9
Ratio of Senior’s (55+) who Accessed Problem Gambling
Services in British Columbia
October 1997 - December 1998
Oct.-Dec. 1997
• 15 clients accessed services- 1 was 55+
• Help Line received 40 calls- unknown were 55+
Jan.-Mar. 1998
• 74 clients accessed services- 11 were 55+
• Help Line received 142 calls- unknown were 55+
Apr.- June 1998
• 97 clients accessed services-3 were 55+
• Help Line received 61 calls-8 were 55+
July - Sept. 1998
• 62 clients accessed services-4 were 55+
• Help Line received 70 calls-5 were 55+
Oct. - Dec. 1998
• 63 clients accessed services-1 was 55+
• Help Line received 110 calls- 13 were 55+
OVERALL
311 individual access - 20 55+
423 help line calls - 26 55+
TOTALS
734 contacts - 46 were 55+10
Gender Ratio of Individuals who Accessed Problem Gambling
Services in British Columbia
October 1997- December 1998
Oct.-Dec. 1997
• 15 clients accessed services- 10 were female
• Help Line received 40 calls- 16 were female (11 were unknown gender)
Jan.-Mar. 1998
• 74 clients accessed services- 32 were female
• Help Line received 142 calls- 76 were female
Apr.- June 1998
• 97 clients accessed services- 43 were female
• Help Line received 61 calls- 28 were female
July - Sept. 1998
• 62 clients accessed services- 29 were female
• Help Line received 70 calls- 34 were female
Oct. - Dec. 1998
• 63 clients accessed services- 27 were female
• Help Line received 110 calls- 44 were female
OVERALL
311 individual access - 141 female
423 help line calls - 198 female
TOTALS
734 contacts - 339 femaleYou can also read
