Does bingo help the elderly stay young? (2)

According to the results of several studies, playing bingo is extremely healthy for the elderly. Investigations have shown that the game slows the physical and mental health aging process; however this is not the complete picture.

These surveys were conducted primarily in recreational centers for senior citizens, centers where the emphasis is primarily on social activities and not on the lucrative side of the game. In these centers, elderly people generally know each other and playing bingo allows them to engage in an enjoyed activity together.

Such surveys have not been conducted, for example, in conventional bingo halls, managed by operators for which this is primarily a business. The situation in these bingo halls is likely very different and probably does not have the same positive effects that social centers for the elderly do.

Bingo halls offer special prizes to lure players in and focus on low-income pensioners who dream of big wins. Often the motivation of the players is not to socialize, but the gain, which may even increase the sense of loneliness. There are frequently lots of noisy slot machines and although the lights are dazzling, the quiet atmosphere of a recreation center is completely lacking.