Jan 03, 2017 Gambling addicts have ‘WEAKER’ brains – just like alcoholics and drug addicts, scientists discover Experts at Imperial College London hope their discovery that gambling triggers two key. Problem gambling has most often been conceptualized and defined in the past as an addiction or medical problem, because this was a familiar framework for both policy makers and clinicians, and because of the surface similarities between gambling problems and alcohol and other drug problems. When addiction to gambling and substance abuse co-occur, crime can follow. When a person who has an addiction to drugs and gambling loses their money at the casino, they may turn to crime, like theft, to sustain their drug addiction.

There was a time when compulsive gambling was considered to be a bad habit, a hobby or preoccupation that some people took a little too far. There is a common perception that one can simply quit at any time. Many people still consider gambling addiction to be primarily a financial problem and don’t understand that deep and profound control that it can have over a person.

Compulsive gambling can be an addiction, just as real and powerful as a serious drug addiction. According to Scientific American, 'pathological gamblers and drug addicts share many of the same genetic predispositions for impulsivity and reward seeking. Just as substance addicts require increasingly strong hits to get high, compulsive gamblers pursue ever riskier ventures.'

Unfortunately, this similarity also means that drug abusers and compulsive gamblers both suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they abstain.

Studies have 'supported the notion that pathological gamblers experienced similar levels of withdrawal symptom severity as alcohol-dependent participants,' according to a 2008 article in the journal 'International Gambling Studies'. However, the studies found that further research is needed to determine whether the symptoms in the gamblers were from no longer gambling, but instead were from the loss of a way to cope and alleviate stress.

Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University found that gamblers unable to feed their habit suffer from moodiness, irritability, nausea, stomach cramps, and sweats. 'These are real effects,' Griffiths said. 'Gamblers have withdrawal symptoms like drug addicts.'

Griffiths, who has spent the last 20 years studying the minds of compulsive gamblers, believes that many of the key features of crack, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine addiction also apply to problem gamblers. For example, a gambling addiction tends to dominate a person's mind, leading to cravings and a complete preoccupation with the habit. They also build up a tolerance to their habit, leading to a need to increase their 'fix' over time.

A new understanding of compulsive gambling has helped scientists redefine addiction itself, according to the Scientific American article “How the Brain Gets Addicted to Gambling.” Experts used to think of addiction as dependency on a chemical, but they now define it as repeatedly pursuing a rewarding experience despite serious repercussions. That rewarding experience could be the high of cocaine or heroin or the thrill of doubling one's money at the casino.

Finding a comprehensive gambling treatment program will give you the best chance of finding abstinence and recovering from compulsive gambling. Trained addiction specialists and therapists that can provide the appropriate behavioral therapies, medication assisted therapies and support to assist on this important journey.

Gambling is one of the most insidious of human vices, as it presents the illusion of easy money yet can quickly lead to financial ruin. The odds are never in your favor whether it is poker, blackjack or anything else; gambling is a successful industry because the house always wins. Read on to find out about the symptoms, causes and effects of gambling addiction.

Are There Different Types of Gambling Addiction?

Gambling is a diverse activity, so different types of gambling addiction exist as well. It is not always obvious when someone is addicted to gambling. Contrary to popular belief, the act of gambling is not restricted to slot machines, cards and casinos. Purchasing a lottery ticket, entering a raffle or making a bet with a friend are also forms of gambling.

Gambling addiction can occur when a person feels that they are in financial ruin and can only solve their problems by gambling what little they have in an attempt to get a large sum of money. Unfortunately, this almost always leads to a cycle in which the gambler feels they must win back their losses, and the cycle goes on until the person is forced to seek rehabilitation to break their habit.

Another type of gambling addiction results when a gambler plays the games and makes risky bets to experience the emotional high associated with taking huge risks that occasionally pay off. In both cases, the person affected by this addiction must have the desire to stop the behavior, not just to please family and friends. If you, or a loved one, want to stop gambling but don’t not know where to begin, call our hotline at for the resources necessary to start the recovery process.

What Causes an Addiction to Gambling?

Many factors can contribute to a gambling addiction, including desperation for money, the desire to experience thrills and highs, the social status associated with being a successful gambler, and the entertaining atmosphere of the mainstream gambling scene. Unfortunately, once a gambling addiction takes hold, breaking the cycle is difficult. Severe addictions can take hold when someone feels desperate financially and wants to make back what they have lost. Once the person finally wins, while they may end up collecting a massive amount of money from that win, it is rarely enough to cover what has already been lost. Most gamblers never even come close to breaking even.

What Are the Signs of a Gambling Problem?

The signs of a gambling problem are often the same as the signs of other addictions. Common signs of addiction include, but are not limited to, the following:

Feeling the need to be secretive about gambling
Having trouble controlling gambling habits
Gambling when you cannot afford to
Your friends and family express concern about your gambling

Of course, as with any other addiction, the hallmark sign of a gambling problem is that you feel you cannot stop. If you feel like you need to try just one more time, or if you feel anxious when you think about quitting, it is highly likely you are suffering from a gambling addiction. If you think you or your loved one may be suffering from a gambling addiction, call to talk about the signs of a gambling addiction and your individual situation.

Emotional Symptoms of Excessive Gambling

Excessive gambling often causes a multitude of emotional symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts and tendencies. In extreme situations, these thoughts may lead a gambler to actually making an attempt to end their life. Losing everything to gambling is devastating and leaves many people feeling completely hopeless.

Physical Symptoms of Excessive Gambling

Because gambling can cause depression, anxiety and self-harming tendencies, several physical signs are to be watched out for. Depression and anxiety sometimes lead to sleep deprivation, which may result in pale skin, weight gain or weight loss, acne and dark circles under the eyes.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of a Gambling Addiction

Gambling is associated with many additional effects, in both the short- and long-term. Gambling addiction frequently results in other addictions that serve as coping mechanisms for people who are stressed out by the activity. Many gamblers turn to drugs, alcohol and other activities to alleviate the anxiety brought on by the gambling lifestyle. Even if a gambler never experiences financial ruin as a result of the lifestyle, they may struggle with drug and alcohol addiction for the rest of life after self-medicating to deal with the stress. Also, relationships are often permanently damaged as a result of gambling.

Is There a Test or Self-Assessment I Can Do?

Gambling Is Like A Drug Check

If you think you may have a gambling problem, ask yourself whether you would be okay if you stopped gambling right now. If you feel anxious or as if you shouldn’t stop yet, chances are you are suffering from a gambling addiction. However, if you are not sure, call our hotline any time at to speak with someone who can help you assess whether or not you have a problem and need help to recover.