Casinos and Slots Beneficial for Elderly Community
Agnes Lutty, 97, grabs the handrails of her walker, shuffles across the dining room of her Penn Hills home and stands in front of a jade cat statue, rubbing it for luck. "Are we going to win today or have a good time?" asks her daughter, Lois Choby, 66, sitting at their breakfast table, clanking spoon against bowl to scoop up cereal.
"Both," the mother answers, the corners of her mouth turning up in a smile.
So goes the women's ritual before setting out on an almost-monthly gambling trip, this time to play the slots at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va.
It's not uncommon to find seniors playing the slots. After all, Mountaineer's typical slots player is between 55 and 64. But players nearing 100 remain the "exception to the rule," spokeswoman Tamara Cronin said.
With Allegheny County having the nation's second-highest concentration of senior citizens, and with Pittsburgh poised to get one of the state's 14 casino licenses, it's only natural more seniors will begin playing the slots.
And some say that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Gambling gets them out of the house and keeps their minds sharp, social scientists said. It's just that people on fixed incomes need to keep in mind how much they can afford to gamble.
June 26, 2006
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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