The elderly are among the fastest-growing groups seeking help for problem gambling. 

The Salvation Army says the number of people over 60 seeking face-to-face counseling for gambling problems rose 17 per cent in the past financial year. 

The biggest increase was among elderly women, with a 30 per cent leap in requests for help. 

The figures follow similar evidence from the Problem Gambling Helpline, which highlighted the trend in April. 

It reported that over-60s seeking help were spending an average of nearly $500 a week on gambling. 

Laurie Siegel-Woodward, a counselor for the Salvation Army's Oasis Centre in Christchurch, said the longer-term trends were the most alarming. 

In the three years to 2003, there was an 83 per cent increase in numbers coming to the centre. 

Statistics from problem gambling agencies across the country showed the number of people over 60 seeking help had increased nearly six-fold between 1997 and last year. 

Mr Siegel-Woodward said over-60 problem gamblers were increasing at a much higher rate than the older population at large. 

"It's a really worrying trend as elderly gamblers have less chance of paying off debts and recovering from losses."