The Science Behind Gambling

Learn how gambling affects your brain and factors that may provoke problematic gambling.

When you gamble, your brain releases dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that makes you feel excited. You’d expect to only feel excited when you win, but your body produces this neurological response even when you lose.

This means that once the thrill of the moment takes over, some people have trouble recognizing when it is time to stop playing.

How Does Gambling Affect the Brain?

Along with the release of dopamine to the brain, gambling comes with other potential rewards, including money, social participation and enjoyment. While most of us are able to walk away when we lose and practice safer play habits, others may continue gambling to win back the money they have lost in a phenomenon known as chasing losses. These individuals may begin to develop problems with gambling.

Research conducted by Brain Connections explores how gambling can spiral from an enjoyable pastime into an addiction. When the brain’s rewards system becomes altered by problem gambling, new habits form that become hard to break. This can lead an individual to feel out of control. Watch the video below for more information on how this unfolds.

What Leads People to Develop a Problem with Gambling?

A myriad of factors may put a person at risk to develop a problem with gambling. Studies show that contributing factors such as environment, available resources, age, mood disorders, substance abuse, cultural background and socioeconomic status may increase the likelihood.

Coauthored by international research experts and informed by multiple participants, the Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling explores eight factors associated with problem gambling. These factors are broken down by gambling-specific factors (such as gambling environment, gambling exposure, gambling types, and gambling resources) as well as general factors (such as cultural, social, psychological, and biological).

To learn more about each factor, visit greo.ca.

 

What Factors Might Provoke Problem Gambling?

When is gambling a problem?

Gambling becomes a problem when you have trouble stopping.

Problem Gambling Signs

Gambling Myths

When it comes to gambling, we’re separating fact from fiction.

Common Myths about Gambling

Tips for safer gambling

Learn strategies for playing safe and reducing potential harms

Safer Gambling Tips