Problem Gambling Basics

When does gambling become problematic?

Although gaming and gambling are legal, they can turn into risky behaviors and potentially result in consequences for someone. Recreational gambling is when someone gambles in a way that doesn’t negatively impact their personal time, relationship, finances, or other parts of their life. When gambling does start to impact someone’s life in these ways, it is referred to as problem gambling.

Common warning signs that gambling may be causing harm include:

Mood Changes

Mood shifts to a more negative tone. This can include increased anger, irritability, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal.

Impact on Daily Life, Work, or School

Spending excessive time gambling and neglecting daily activities, such as work, school, exercise, eating, or hygiene.

Gambling as an Escape

Using gambling to escape from or manage stress, sadness, or other problems.

Lying or Hiding Gaming or Gambling

Hiding or being dishonest about the amount of time or money spent gambling to make it seem they are not gambling or betting as much. This could include hiding screens, betting apps, or just lying to friends and family about these behaviors.

Increased Wagering

Feeling the need to bet more often or in higher amount in order to feel the same level of excitement as before.

Physical Changes

Headaches, trouble sleeping, or other stress-related symptoms that are caused by preoccupation with thoughts of gambling or emotional strain caused by gambling.

Preoccupation

Frequent thoughts about gambling. Instead of focusing on a task at hand, they think about the bets they can make or associate something they are doing or seeing with gaming or gambling. This can lead to interference with daily tasks.

Relationship Decline

Worsening relationships with and/or conflict with loved ones because of gambling behavior and its impacts.

Difficulty Trying to Stop or Cut Back on Gambling

Feeling upset, restless, or irritable when trying to stop or cut back on gambling.

Chasing Losses

After losing money one day while gambling, returning another day to try and win that money back.

Financial Impacts

Experiencing negative financial impacts that result in the need to borrow or take money from others.

When someone experiences warning signs like the ones above, or their gambling negatively impacts their life in multiple ways and they are unable to stop or control their gambling behavior, they may be diagnosed with a gambling disorder. Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health disorder that can be diagnosed by a medical professional such as a doctor, therapist, or counselor. A gambling disorder diagnosis requires someone to show four or more warning signs. ³

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What puts someone at risk for developing a gambling problem?

There are a variety of risk factors that also increase someone’s chances of developing a gambling problem, such as:

Family History of Addiction

Just like other mental or physical health problems, genetics and early childhood experiences play a role in developing a gambling problem. Individuals with a family history of gambling problems may be at increased risk for developing gambling-related difficulties due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and learned behavioral factors.

Mental Health Issues

The relationship between mental health issues goes both ways, meaning that mental health concerns can increase the risk of developing a gambling problem, and problem gambling can worsen mental health. Escape gamblers may gamble as a way to deal with depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental health conditions.

Believing in Gambling Fallacies

Beliefs that gambling outcomes are based on skill rather than chance, or that individuals can influence random events, are associated with increased risk for developing gambling disorder. This risk is heightened by the fact that the rules, odds, and true probabilities of winning are often not clearly displayed, making it harder for people to understand how gambling systems actually work.

Substance Use or Misuse

Gambling while using substances can inhibit an individual’s decision-making, leading to riskier gambling behaviors. Like with mental health concerns, the relationship between substance misuse and problem gambling goes both ways.

Being in Debt

Financial stress may lead someone to gamble in hopes of winning money to pay off their debts, but may instead find their debt increasing because of gambling. When faced with a loss, those with a gambling problem may feel like they need to “chase losses,” or win the money they lost back, often furthering the amount of debt they owe.

Environment

Easy access to casinos, race tracks, gaming halls, mobile phone apps, and convenience stores that sell lottery products can increase risk by allowing someone to place a bet with little effort.

How is problem gambling related to substance use and mental health?

Shared Risk and Protective Factors

Problem gambling, substance use, and mental health problems often happen together because they share many of the same risks. These risks include things like stress, trauma, trouble managing emotions, early exposure to gambling or alcohol, and feeling alone or overwhelmed. People who struggle with anxiety, depression, or impulsivity are also more likely to face these challenges. On the other hand, strong protective factors—such as supportive family and friends, healthy coping skills, positive school or work environments, and access to mental health services, help lower the chances of these problems. When these protective factors are strengthened, they can reduce risks across gambling, substance use, and mental health all at the same time.

Co-Occurrence

Research from the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling has shown that many individuals who have a gambling problem will also be diagnosed with a substance use or mental health condition in their lifetime.⁸

73%

Alcohol Use Disorder

Co-occurring condition

73% of individuals with gambling addiction also have an alcohol use disorder.

50%

Mood Disorders

Depression, bipolar, etc.

Half of individuals with gambling addiction experience a co-occurring mood disorder, such as depression.

34%

PTSD

Trauma-related conditions

34% of individuals with gambling addiction have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

19%

Suicidal Ideation

Thoughts of suicide

19% of those with problem gambling report having considered suicide.

4.7%

Suicide Attempts

Reported attempts

4.7% of individuals with problem gambling report having attempted suicide.

These data underscore that gambling addiction is not only a financial or social problem but also a serious mental health issue. The high rates of comorbidity and suicide risk highlight the need for integrated prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches that address both gambling and underlying mental health conditions.

Mirrored Symptoms

Problem gambling symptoms can also look very similar to substance use concerns. With substance use concerns, a person can develop a tolerance to the substance, where they need to use it more often or in larger amounts to get the same feeling as before. For problem gamblers, they might find themselves placing higher bets or betting more often in order to get the same feeling of excitement they did before. Many people with a substance use concern have persistent, compulsive thoughts or behaviors related to their substance use, such as spending a lot of time thinking about where they will get or be able to use the substance next. These kinds of thoughts are mirrored in problem gambling, and an individual with a gambling problem may spend a lot of time thinking about gambling. In both substance use and problem gambling, behaviors may take priority over essential daily activities and self-care, such as basic hygiene, going to work or school, or spending time with loved ones.

When someone tries to cut down or stop using a substance, whether by choice or necessity, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. While withdrawal symptoms from substance use can be physical, such as pain, sweating, or changes in a person’s heartbeat (also known as heart palpitations), they can also be mental. This can include feeling more irritable, anxious, or angry when the person is not using the substance. Problem gamblers who try to cut down or stop gambling show similar mental signs to those with a substance use concern. Cutting back or stopping gambling altogether can be just as hard for someone with a gambling problem as for someone with a substance use concern, and they may find themselves trying to quit many times without success.

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References

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