When by, “addiction”, substance abuse pops in one’s head, concurrently there exists gambling addiction. Gambling addiction can either be the pathological gambling type or the problem gambling kind.

Regardless of what type of gambling it is, just as with any other serious addiction, gambling could be crippling to the personal and social well-being of a gambling addict.

Do addictions have to make a person physically dependent on them?

No. Gambling is a classic example of how addiction can be dangerously psychological. Other psychological addictions include (amongst others):

• Sex addiction
• An emotional attachment that ends up becoming an addiction
• Addiction to video games

While some argue that even marijuana can come under this garb, it is important to know that gambling addicts need gambling addiction treatment just as much as other addicts need treatment for their vices that could be suffering from.

Why and how does someone find themselves addicted to gambling?

To keep things simple, the short answer to this would be something innately human: the seeking of thrill. The thrill that is associated with the possibility of losing one’s valuables just so that they stand a chance of winning something of great value is something fundamental to gambling addiction. This rewards the brains of gambling addicts.

Indeed, gambling works eerily similar to any other physically addictive substance. The pleasure centers of the brain are, well, pleased as the brain’s reward system is stimulated. This makes a person addicted to gambling crave more and more of what they perceive to be a pleasant activity. The more they are at it, the more their tolerance towards the stimuli will be. Essentially, their need for stronger stimulation increases exponentially with increased exposure to their gambling addiction.

Data suggest that in the United States of America alone, a solid 3% of the residents in the country are compulsive gamblers who ideally should be undergoing gambling addiction treatment from any reputed rehab for gamblers. However, that’s not really the case, as some lead their lives without even thinking about the symptoms of addiction a gambling addict could display.