Before you know it, gambling can become a habit and an addiction. The dopamine release from gambling makes it easy to gamble repetitively without a second thought.
Once you’ve experienced the rush of dopamine brought on by a gambling win, you’ll do almost anything to experience that same amount of pleasure again. Hitting the jackpot releases dopamine, generating exceptionally good feelings each time a gambler wins. Specifically, the effect that gambling has on your brain’s levels of dopamine - a chemical messenger that causes feelings of pleasure - is what makes gambling so addicting. As a behavioral addiction, gambling addiction is closely connected with how the brain’s reward system functions. Gambling’s Effect On Your BrainĬompulsive gambling shows signs of measurable changes in your brain chemistry. Keep reading to learn the physiology and psychology behind pathological gambling, along with how to handle problematic gambling behaviors. Learn More About Problem Gambling at Gateway Foundationīelow, you’ll discover the science behind why so many American adults gamble compulsively, including how gambling affects the brain and how casinos manipulate players into gambling more.How Casinos and Games Are Designed to Keep You Gambling.