Poker News

George Epstein

This is especially for senior citizens, but even baby boomers and younger people can benefit from our message here. . .

It was George Bernard Shaw who said: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Think about it. . . Have you ever wondered why this is so? And what does this have to do with playing poker?

To answer these questions, I call your attention to a recent feature story by Diane Scarponi for the Associated Press (AP), entitled “Gambling Linked to Good Health.” She writes: “According to a surprising Yale University study, older recreational gamblers (I read that as older poker players) seem to be healthier than non-gamblers.”

She said this was a “SURPRISING” finding. Maybe it was “surprising” to the Yale University researchers but not to me and probably millions of other seniors who enjoy playing poker. The Yale study actually interviewed 2,400 different people to arrive at this conclusion. Hmm. . .

A phone call to me or a perusal of Chapter 8 in my book, The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners!, could have saved them a lot of time (and money). The chapter entitled “For Senior Citizens: Playing Poker for Fun, $, and Good Health,” was based on my own experience and observations of many other senior citizens who play poker compared to others who lead a more sedentary life after retirement. Older poker players are healthier than non-players.

In fact, I’ve lectured on this at senior citizen centers, retirement homes, two Elderhostels, and even on a luxury cruise catering to older people. Before I started playing poker seriously, albeit strictly for recreation (the more money I win, the more fun it is!), I found myself forgetting things, misplacing my wallet, my car keys, etc. In case this hasn’t happened to you, let me tell you how frustrating it can be to drive home, park your car, go into the house - and then you can’t find your keys. Egad! Since I started playing poker once or twice a week, my memory has improved remarkably - even as I have aged. (I turned 79 on November 9.) And my overall health has improved, too. (No, playing poker doesn’t help my hearing problem.) What’s more, a healthy mind leads to a healthy body - and that makes for a happier family and love life.

Being an engineer, I was curious as to why this was so. I found lots of good books that told me that our brains are made up of neurons with tiny cylinders called synapses surrounding sections of the neurons. These provide the means for transmitting impulses from one part of the brain to the next. We can look at the brain as sort of a muscle. When we exercise it with mental activity, it grows stronger by encouraging the growth of the synapses, making it easier to transmit messages or impulses within the brain. Playing poker requires us to make decisions - lots of them — which provides the exercise for our brains. The Yale study did confirm my personal experience. The AP article quotes a 73-year old retired state highway worker: “I’m retired,” he said, “and it exercises my brain.”

There is yet another facet of why playing poker is healthy for seniors. Getting out of the house and being with people provides a psychological lift. Everyone needs to interact with others.

Yes, playing poker keeps us seniors healthy, alert and socially active. I highly recommend it to all seniors. . . . . . So readers, what’s YOUR opinion?

Filed under: Poker News