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Gambling Addiction

Understanding Gambling Addiction

Gambling involves taking a risk on an unclear outcome or event by risking something of value (usually money) with the intent of trying to win an item of higher value.

Gambling addiction is identified by a pattern of repeated and ongoing betting and wagering that continues despite creating multiple problems in several areas of an individual’s life.

Individuals in any age group may suffer from gambling disorder. Those who suffer from gambling disorder have trouble controlling gambling. Individuals, families, and society may be affected by gambling disorder.

Signs of gambling addiction?

A significant sign of gambling addiction is when gambling interferes with major areas of your life, like your relationships, work and financial stability.

More specific signs of gambling addiction include:

  • Frequently thinking about gambling.
  • Needing to gamble with greater amounts of money or valuables to receive the same level of pleasure and excitement (tolerance).
  • Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control or stop gambling.
  • Restlessness or irritability when you try to stop gambling (withdrawal).
  • Gambling when you feel distressed (as an “escape” from negative feelings).
  • Gambling to regain recent gambling-related losses (called “chasing losses”).
  • Downplaying or lying to loved ones about your gambling behaviours.
  • Relying on other people to fund your gambling or replace the money you lost from gambling.
  • Continuing to gamble even when it negatively affects your finances, work, education or personal relationships.

Causes of Gambling Addiction

There’s no single cause of gambling disorder or other addictions — it’s a very complex condition. Some of the factors that contribute to gambling disorder include:

  • Changes in brain chemistry: Gambling affects the reward center of your brain. Humans are biologically motivated to seek rewards. Often, these rewards come from healthy behaviours. When you spend time with a loved one or eat a delicious meal, your body releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel pleasure. It becomes a cycle: You seek out these experiences because they reward you with good feelings. Gambling can send massive surges of dopamine through your brain, too. But instead of motivating you to do the things you need to do to survive (like eat and work), such massive dopamine levels can have damaging effects on your thoughts, feelings and behaviour. This can create an unhealthy drive to seek more pleasure from gambling and less from healthier activities. Over time, gambling changes your brain chemistry, and you become desensitized to its effects. You then need to gamble more to produce the same effect.
  • Genetics: Gambling disorder tends to run in families, which suggests a genetic link. Studies on identical twins also show that genetic factors may contribute more to the risk of developing gambling disorder than environmental factors (like adverse childhood experiences).
  • Personality traits and coexisting mental health conditions: Several studies show that people with gambling disorder are more likely to have extremes of the following personality traits or behaviours:
  • Impulsivity.
  • Sensation-seeking.
  • Compulsivity.
  • Difficulties with decision-making and planning.
  • Rapid shifts in mood (affective instability).

In addition, people with gambling disorder are more likely to have certain coexisting mental health conditions, including:

  • Substance use disorder (SUD), especially alcohol use disorder.
  • Impulse control disorders.
  • Mood disorders, like depression.
  • Anxiety disorders.
  • Personality disorders.
  • Some people may have these conditions before they develop gambling disorder, while others may later develop them.

Treatment Approaches

Treating compulsive gambling can be challenging. That’s partly because most people have a hard time admitting they have a problem. Yet a major part of treatment is working on acknowledging that you’re a compulsive gambler.

If your family or your employer pressured you into therapy, you may find yourself resisting treatment. But treating a gambling problem can help you regain a sense of control — and possibly help heal damaged relationships or finances.

Treatment for compulsive gambling may include these approaches:

  • Therapy. Behavioural therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy may be helpful. Behavioural therapy uses a process of exposure to the behaviour you want to unlearn and teaches you skills to reduce your urge to gamble. Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on identifying unhealthy, irrational and negative beliefs and replacing them with healthy, positive ones. Family therapy also may be helpful.
  • Medications. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers may help treat problems that often go along with compulsive gambling — such as bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety. Some antidepressants may be effective in reducing gambling behaviour. Medications called narcotic antagonists, useful in treating substance misuse, may help treat compulsive gambling.
  • Self-help groups. Some people find that talking with others who have a gambling problem may be a helpful part of treatment. Ask your health care provider or mental health provider for advice on self-help groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous and other resources.

Treatment for compulsive gambling may involve an outpatient program, inpatient program or a residential treatment program, depending on your needs and resources.Treatment for substance misuse, depression, anxiety or any other mental health issue may be part of your treatment plan for compulsive gambling.

Relapse prevention

Even with treatment, you may return to gambling, especially if you spend time with people who gamble or you’re in gambling settings. If you feel that you’ll start gambling again, contact your mental health provider or sponsor right away to prevent a relapse.

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