Commentary: Elder abuse in Washington state often has a gambling connection

Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults has been on the rise generally within law enforcement, and especially within our agency. The Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC) has been at the forefront of investigating these crimes, often with a gambling connection. Prior to our engagement with Adult Protective Services, these crimes were under-reported to our agency. Theft from a vulnerable adult generally can be a complicated case; however, when the perpetrator uses the funds for their own gambling habit, it becomes easier to litigate as gambling provides no benefit to the vulnerable adult victim who rarely participates in the gambling activity.

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