Corporate Gambling
March 13, 2006
In an Alberta study,
seniors defined gambling as any activity involving
playing a game for money, betting on the outcome of a
contest, or paying for the opportunity to enter a
lottery. It can take many different forms, including
scratch tickets, pull tab tickets, bingo games, casino
games, mahjong, charity raffles, lottery tickets,
betting on sports games or pools, and horse betting. As
governments derive more and more revenues from gambling,
they have a public responsibility to prevent and address
problems that may arise from that activity. The biggest
growth has been in casinos and video lotteries. Young
seniors may cash in their Registered Retirement Savings
Plan to pay for gambling. They often don't realize that
in doing so, the amount of the RRSP is added to their
income that year for income tax purposes.
Situation of a gambler
A gambler in this situation can be in for a nasty
eye-opener to find that not only did he or she lose the
money, but also that the person then has to pay higher
taxes because of cashing in the RRSP. Governments can
also be concerned that if seniors lose more money than
they can afford, that the seniors will then become a
government responsibility. This is because many seniors'
benefits are tied to seniors' income. A higher income
senior who gambles beyond his or her means can easily
become a low income senior. In some cases, the concern
is about the marketing strategies used in some
communities to bring seniors into casinos, such as
busing them to and from a seniors' building to the
casino, and providing inducements, such as offering
breakfast.
Conclusion
Some people are concerned that gambling may adversely
affect the person's health. If the person is spending
more than he or she can afford, there isn't likely to be
adequate money for rent, food, medications. There are
gender issues.
Corporate Gambling is a
new activity for some older women. That inexperience can
lead to difficulties. A husband who develops a gambling
problem in later life risks not only his income, assets,
and future wellbeing, but that of his wife who is likely
to outlive him by many years. His problem becomes hers.
Gambling problems are a family issue. Lower education
for some seniors may mean they may not be able to fully
understand risks they take in gambling.
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