THOUSANDS of pensioners across Dorset and Hampshire may be turning to gambling to boost their income, it is feared.

Pensioners are no strangers to bingo halls and betting shops but latest research reveals that many are there for more than entertainment.

Prudential UK polled pensioners on whether they were increasing their incomes - and if so, how.

Many pensioners had returned to work, others had sold or part-sold their homes - but an estimated 160,000 across the UK said they were gambling specifically to raise funds.

"Old age gambling is all too real," warned Ian Semel, director of problem gambling association Gordon House.

"Many of them have an irrational belief that gambling provides money for nothing. Tragically it mostly has the reverse effect."

Prudential UK's Angus Maciver said: "The numbers who claim they have turned to gambling clearly shows the pressure many of the nation's retirees are under.

"Despite dire warnings, most people adopt an ostrich approach and hope for a miracle to fund their retirement. Astoundingly, some expect this miracle to come with the turn of a card."

Prudential estimates that 40 per cent of pensioner households live on less than £10,000 a year. Two-thirds will have failed to plan financially before retirement.

In this region (South West), the average retired-household income is £13,000 (UK average: £12,430, less than half the national average wage).

The South West comes fourth after Yorkshire (£14,500); Lancashire (£13,500) and London (£13,300).

Some 14.4 per cent of pensioners are returning to some form of work to make ends meet. Other methods for topping-up include:

rearranging investments (13.8 per cent)

using funds originally intended to be left as an inheritance (4.5 per cent)

selling the house or equity release plans (3.9 per cent)

selling off other assets such as furniture and electrical goods (3.2 per cent).

For more information, contact Gamblers Anonymous, 08700 508880 or private@gamblersanonymous.org.uk

First published: February 9