GAMBLING

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Experimentation

Putting a bet on Melbourne Cup Day or on NRL games or on a Thursday when the Powerball prize is $ 100 million may be viewed by many people as “just a flutter”. However, this may develop into a habit.

1. When does a flutter become an addiction?

Gambling addiction is when you can't stop gambling, even when it causes you harm.

Gambling addiction is also known as gambling disorder. People with a gambling addiction continue to gamble, even if it takes up a lot of their time or they are losing a lot of money. They continue to take risks, in the hope that the reward will be valuable.

2. When does gambling become a problem?

Gambling becomes a problem when it negatively impacts on your life. Australia is suffering a gambling harm crisis, we lose more to gambling ($32b) than any other country on a per capita basis, and sadly, our kids are being targeted to gamble and the evidence shows more than 600,000 underage teenagers are gambling $18m every year in Australia. Escalating losses continue to climb despite sustained cost-of-living pressures.

Gambling addiction can seriously affect all areas of life. Problem gambling can involve:

•  financial losses

• health problems

• excessive alcohol drinking

• problems at work or with studies

• mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation

• breakdown of personal relationships, including family and domestic violence

• criminal activity which may result in imprisonment

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1. Gambling can affect the way the brain functions: tolerance and dependence

Neuroscience research shows that gambling affects the brain in ways similar to substance addictions, making it difficult for individuals to control their behaviour despite harmful consequences.

Key findings include:

• Reward System: Gambling activates the brain's reward pathway (the mesolimbic system), releasing dopamine and reinforcing gambling behaviour. Unpredictable outcomes, especially "near-misses," stimulate the reward system almost as strongly as actual wins, encouraging continued gambling.

• Dopamine: Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter involved in gambling addiction. Repeated gambling causes changes in dopamine signalling, leading to reduced sensitivity (tolerance), meaning individuals need to gamble more or take greater risks to experience the same excitement. These changes also impair decision-making and impulse control.

• Neuroplasticity: The brain adapts to repeated gambling through neuroplasticity, strengthening neural connections associated with gambling and making it a habitual behavior. However, neuroplasticity also supports recovery, as therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can help retrain the brain and reduce compulsive gambling.

• Brain Imaging Studies: Brain scans have identified altered activity in several key regions:

  • The prefrontal cortex shows reduced activity, affecting self-control and decision-making.

  • The amygdala becomes more responsive to gambling-related cues, increasing emotional reactions.

  • The striatum, part of the brain's reward system, shows heightened activation, reinforcing gambling behaviour.