Back

Gambling Addiction and Getting Help

Like any other ‘vice’ or guilty pleasure – drinking alcohol, smoking a cigarette, overeating – gambling is seen as something common among current society. And similarly to the vices aforementioned, dabbling in circles of gambling and betting can be the start of a slippery slope.

How much do you know about gambling? Is it considered as much of a cognitive illness as say, alcoholism, binge-eating disorder, or drug addiction? In this post, we will look at how gambling affects the mind, body, and brain.

Gambling addiction or ‘problem gambling’ refers to a behavioural disorder whereby the act of gambling interrupts the normal workings of the brain’s reward system. This causes the person to keep on gambling despite any negative impact it has upon that person’s life.

What does gambling do to your brain?

As with all addictions, gambling stimulates dopamine, endorphins and other neurotransmitters that stimulate the pleasure centres of your brain. It particularly disturbs the production of dopamine.

Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter circling around the reward system, responsible for how we feel pleasure and our decision-making. It is released whenever the gambler both gambles – even without winning – and even more so when it produces a win.

So believe it or not, it isn’t as simple as the person ‘wanting to win loads of money’. In fact, some studies show that the effect it has on the brain isn’t determined by the outcome, but the anticipation of the outcome.

So dopamine, in particular, is released in the brain when enjoying activities where the reward is uncertain, or the reward is anticipated but not certain. This enables researchers to understand how easy it can be for a person to slip into gambling addiction. [1]

Essentially, the anticipation of a gamble and the potential euphoria from winning activate the brain’s reward system and produces a feeling of ‘high.’ The problem is, the amount of dopamine released is 10 times more than a normal rewarding experience would normally produce.

This means that even less dopamine is produced when the person is not engaging in a rewarding activity. The chase for dopamine may also be the reason why those with existing underlying mental health issues may be more susceptible to becoming addicted, just like with substances.

Understanding the behaviour behind gambling

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) recently reclassified gambling from “pathological” (an impulse-control disorder in order to relieve anxiety) to a “behavioural addiction.”

It has since been placed under the same section as substance abuse disorders, which emphasises the strong association between gambling disorder and other types of addiction. [2] However, signs of gambling addiction are often overlooked because of the misconception that you can only be addicted to a substance – not a behaviour.

This has been controversial even within the science world. The finding that the biology underlying gambling addiction – the changes in chemical activity within the brain – was similar to that of substance addiction helps determine the best possible methods in treating problem gamblers.

Internet gambling

As the internet becomes more accessible than ever, so has gambling. You don’t need to attend a betting shop, you don’t even need to leave your bed. All you need is a laptop or a phone.

Recently legal steps have been taken to introduce a £2 stake limit in betting shops, but this has not yet been extended to online gambling. Ironically, internet gambling is where it is most accessible, though the Gambling Commission is calling for such measures to be put in place.

This is particularly worrying in the current circumstances; isolation, loneliness, financial worries, no real job security, low mood, all things that have been exacerbated by the current pandemic. These are all elements that make a problem gambler more likely to gamble.

Can gambling cause mental health issues?

Without a doubt, similarly to any addiction, problem gambling can lead to a wealth of mental health issues. The concepts of fear, shame, and blame are all prevalent, as is the stress of balancing accumulating debts.

Below we discuss the three ‘S’s in relation to gambling and mental health:

Environmental Factors and Predisposition

It has been argued that those more likely to become addicted to gambling have an underactive brain reward system. This disturbance in the production of dopamine is one where gambling produces more than was ever being produced prior to the addiction.

It’s also been argued that it may be something to do with the pre-frontal cortex – the part of the brain that’s responsible for decision-making. Less activation of the pre-frontal cortex means urges to gamble are harder to rationalize or control.

Therapies for gambling addiction

Fortunately, the more we discuss gambling addiction as a mental illness, the more research and resources are available for those who are afflicted by problem gambling. Below we have listed some of the most common treatments for gambling addiction:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a goal-orientated therapy which challenges and changes thinking and behaviour patterns. It tries to change the attitudes and instilled beliefs of the client, is (usually) short term, and is non-invasive.

2. Group Therapy

Group therapy is known to be an extremely effective form of therapy. Not only does the person battling gambling addiction come to learn more about their problems, but it is also a safe space shared with people from all different backgrounds and provides a sense of community.

Gamblers Anonymous is currently operating in the UK and it mirrors the 12-step programme used in Alcohol Anonymous.

3. Family Therapy

Sometimes this is necessary rather than an option; a problem gambler may have lied about or stolen money from loved ones in order to fund their addiction.

Family therapy is sometimes imperative to recovery as their understanding of the problem will enable them to provide better ways to support and cope with the problem gambling.

4. Individual Therapy

There are therapists that specialize in gambling addiction who offer one on one treatment. They will talk you through your addiction and help you understand more about how you got to this place with gambling. [3]

You will build strategies ad coping mechanisms and also identify triggers that may hinder your recovery.

5 ways to stop gambling

Below we have listed five top tips to help you curb your gambling addiction and find your way back:

Alternatives to gambling

So, we’ve discussed how and why one becomes addicted to gambling; the reward system; the squirts of dopamine, and waves of pleasure.

But the underlying reason your gambling may only be known to you; suppression of emotions, escapism, boredom, pain relief – so it’s important to substitute what you try to get from gambling with something else.

• Adrenaline rush – Try adventure sports or something new, such as rock climbing
• Social anxiety, shyness – Join a class to teach you how to meet people and join clubs of interest
• Boredom – Identify your strength and hobbies, join groups that put these things to work such as volunteer work; activities with your children; identify new interests and hobbies
•  Relaxation – Practice mindfulness; go for walk; exercise; walk the dog; listen to relaxing music
• Attempt to solve money problems – seek financial help. There are many free financial helplines and organisations who are extremely helpful
• Betting shops – Self-exclusion is whereby the person voluntarily excludes themselves from entering betting shops. Current statistics show that over 42,000 people have used self-exclusion in betting shops to aid their recovery in gambling addiction. [4]
• Internet – There are numerous ‘block packages’ available online that make the user unable to access certain websites. For example, anything not suitable for over 18s. There is various software to choose from including NetNanny, Gamblock, and Betfilter

How can we help?

At ADT Healthcare, we have years of experience in supporting people with a variety of addictions. Our rehab clinic offers the following benefits:

• Detox with medical assistance and supervision
• Inpatient treatment which covers accommodation, leisure facilities, food and therapy
• An environment focused on support, nurturing and care
• Individual treatment plans covering CBT, relapse prevention, DBT, individual counselling, family therapy, group therapy, and holistic therapy
• 12 months free aftercare once you leave the facility
• Access to 12 step programmes

References

[1] https://science.sciencemag.org/content/299/5614/1898

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24723865/

[3] https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/144592.pdf

[4] https://www.statista.com/statistics/468475/self-exclusions-from-betting-gambling-industry-in-great-britain/

About the author: