How Does Gambling Affect the Brain?

Along with the release of dopamine in the brain, gambling comes with other potential rewards, including money, social involvement, and entertainment. While most of us are able to walk away when we lose and adopt safe gambling habits, others may continue to gamble in order to recover the money they have lost in a known situation. to pursue losses. These people can start developing gambling problems. Research by Brain Connections examines how gambling can go from a fun game to an addiction. When the brain’s reward system is altered by gambling, new habits are created that are difficult to break. It can make a person feel out of control. Watch the video below for more information on how this works.

What Causes People to Have a Gambling Problem?

Many factors can put a person at risk for developing a gambling problem. Research shows that contributing factors such as environment, resources, age, mood disorders, drug use, cultural background, and economic status can increase the risk.

Brought together by international research experts and informed by a wide range of participants, the Harmful Gambling Theory examines eight factors associated with problem gambling. These factors are influenced by factors related to gambling (such as gambling venues, exposure to gambling, types of gambling and gambling equipment) and general factors (such as culture, social and each other, mind and life).

Game Environment

Where individuals live can affect the nature and frequency of their gambling. Gambling location is influenced by the number of nearby casinos and the type of gambling that takes place there.
It is controlled and controlled by the government and influenced by the consumer demand. The environment and community you find yourself in can influence your exposure to gambling and determine whether you develop harmful gambling habits.

Gambling Money

These refer to resources available to a person that can prevent or reduce harm and their availability and availability. They can take the form of programs to help prevent the development of problematic gambling behavior or tools to identify the risks of gambling products.

Cultural Factors

Some communities view gambling as a common activity, making it difficult to identify problems. Because culture can be a major influence on your values, it can also make it difficult to seek help when you need it.
These perceptions or shared values ​​can influence people’s perceptions of gambling and what constitutes a problem.

Psychological Factors

Psychological problems and situations, in addition to coping styles, social learning, and beliefs, can make a person more likely to engage in harmful gambling.
People with gambling problems may also suffer from substance abuse and mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Forecasting fallacy: Forecasting fallacy is the mistaken belief that if an event or outcome occurs more frequently than it has in the past, it is more likely to occur in the future (or is another). In fact, the probability of an event/outcome does not depend on past events.

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Illusion of control: Illusion of control occurs when a person believes that they are in control of something that cannot be controlled. In the context of gambling, players believe that they have special skills or knowledge that give them an advantage when playing. (For example, using the same space will result in a win.)

Gambling becomes a problem when you find it difficult to stop. When you spend more than you can afford. But when it starts to negatively affect other areas of your life, such as physical or mental health, school or work performance, finances, and/or relationships.

People with gambling problems may max out their credit cards, borrow money, and neglect family, work, or school. Despite the negative consequences, they may deny that they have a problem, continue to pursue their losses, neglecting family, friends, work, and even themselves.

How to Know if You Have a Problem

Do you start to feel different emotions, like frustration and anxiety, when you think about the game? Ignoring your feelings only makes it worse. Eventually, they will begin to affect not only you, but also your family and friends. Pay attention to how gambling makes you feel and know the warning signs before you get into trouble.