The Psychology Behind Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is becoming a significant problem as gambling has become more and more accessible with the development of the Internet. Although gambling isn’t always a negative thing, it can quickly lead to addictive behaviors before you realize it.

Gambling addiction will look very different from other addiction disorders, which is why gamblers need to be aware of the warning signs. In this article, we will be discussing the psychology behind why people develop gambling addiction and when it can become a problem.

Understanding Why People Gamble

A large majority of people who enjoy gambling will often participate in it as a pastime or a hobby. These types of people are usually called social gamblers, as they will play but can walk away at any time without feeling the distress that comes with an addictive disorder. The best way to understand compulsive gambling is to first understand why the average person gambles:

Excitement: Gambling brings an adrenaline rush and provides an edge to the game since the player can win or lose.

Enjoyment: Certain types of gambling games are quite fun and can be enjoyable to play on your own or in a more social setting.

Challenging: Many people enjoy the challenge of gambling, especially in certain types of gambling, such as poker or blackjack.

Camaraderie: Many gamblers tend to gamble in social settings and form a community of people who enjoy the competition and the excitement of gambling.

Attention: Some gamblers enjoy the attention they get when they are a big spender or are on a winning streak.

Despite the fact that there is healthy gambling, the line between healthy and unhealthy gambling is very thin and isn’t always very obvious. There is a dark side to the gambler mentality, and even these harmless reasons for gambling can quickly take a bad turn.

The main reason why gambling can become an addiction is that it stimulates the brain’s reward system in a similar way to alcohol or drugs. It creates a high when you are winning and will result in cravings and urges when you aren’t. Your brain will learn to crave the excitement and adrenaline of gambling, which can result in the standard types of addictive changes and behaviors.

People at Risk of Developing Gambling Addiction

Anyone who participates in gambling could develop an addiction depending on the circumstances and why they are gambling. However, there are some risk factors that put specific individuals in more danger of developing addictive behaviors than others:

Mental health disorders: Those who already have mental health disorders may have a higher likelihood of developing a gambling addiction as a co-occurring mental health disorder. Disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or personality disorders can all increase this risk.

Age: Studies have shown that teenagers and young adults have a higher likelihood of developing compulsive gambling. This is more significant than adults with gambling problems, as young adults are more susceptible to wanting peer approval, developing unhealthy coping mechanisms, and seeking entertainment.

Sex: Research has also shown that men have a higher risk of compulsive gambling as they have a greater tendency to take risks.

Exposure: Individuals who begin gambling at a younger age have a higher risk of developing a gambling disorder later in life. Problem gambling is also more common in those who face peer pressure to gamble or are in situations where they are frequently exposed to gambling.

Personality: Certain personality types have a higher risk of developing a variety of addictive behaviors, including unhealthy gambling. Many of these personality characteristics include trouble making decisions, sensation seeking, impulsivity, and boredom.

These are just a few of the main factors that can contribute to compulsive gambling, but this is very dependent on the individual. Other factors such as medications, stress, culture, and early gambling success can all contribute to developing an addiction. Some individuals are also much more likely to develop an addiction if they have an addictive personality already.

When Does Gambling Become a Problem?

Anyone who enjoys social gambling needs to be aware of the risk factors associated with this pastime since it can easily get out of hand. Part of why this is such a complex issue is that problem gamblers usually have mixed motives for gambling, which may not always be entirely bad. For example, you may gamble because you want to get out of the house and socialize, but this leads to gambling because you are chasing your losses.

Why a problem gambler gambles is going to look a bit different than a healthy gambler, which can help you better understand when this becomes a problem:

Winning money: Many gamblers can develop unhealthy behaviors because they are motivated to win money when they gamble, especially if they have had winnings in the past.

Chasing losses: The more you gamble, the higher the likelihood that you will start to lose money. Unhealthy gamblers will start to chase their losses, even if that means they will lose more and more money in the process.

Escapism: Pathological gamblers often turn to gambling as a way of coping with negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, or stress.

Control: Research has shown that gambling addicts often develop an illusion of control when it comes to gambling, which can push them even further to continue their gambling efforts.

Pathological gamblers will often start to lose much of the enjoyment that the game initially brought them as the addiction progresses. It will become less and less about achieving results or enjoying the game and more about satisfying the unrelenting urge to gamble.

How to Know If You Have a Gambling Addiction

Because gambling is not inherently bad, it can be challenging to understand when it becomes a problem. One of the first signs of a gambling addiction is spending more money than you intended to, even if you are setting boundaries for yourself. It can also take the form of chasing losses to try to win your money back, even if this results in even more losses.

A gambling addiction will also result in your mind constantly going to the thought of gambling, which can result in cravings and urges that feel irresistible. You may find that you are turning to gambling as a way of suppressing negative emotions instead of for enjoyment.

As a gambling addiction progresses, you may find that you are hiding your gambling from your loved ones and that it is interfering in your life. It may be interrupting your ability to work, impacting your finances, or resulting in you missing important appointments or family events.

Treating Unhealthy Gambling

If you or a loved one is battling a gambling addiction, the first step is to acknowledge the problem and move forward. You need to seek treatment as soon as possible so that you can begin the process of getting your life back and making a full recovery.

The best treatment option for unhealthy gambling is to join a gambling addiction program that provides things like individual therapy, support groups, group therapy, financial planning, and cognitive behavior therapy.

If you are looking for the best gambling addiction treatment program, look no further than Victory Bay. Our mental health professionals are dedicated to improving the lives of our clients and helping them address complex addiction disorders. We are proud advocates for reversing the social stigma of mental illness, and we provide extensive treatment programs that equip our patients with the mental health care and continued support that they need.

At Victory Bay, we believe it’s never too late to begin treatment, so reach out to us today to start your treatment in as little as two hours!