Gambling addiction, some times also called as compulsive gambling is a type of impulse control disorder. Compulsive gamblers generally do not have the ability to control the impulse to gamble and the consequences of the gambling does not matter to them. Compulsive gambling like other types of addictions is the result of a combination of biological vulnerabilities, ways of thinking and social stress.
Causes of Gambling Addiction:
- Unpleasant feelings developed in the individual such as stress, depression, loneliness, fear, and anxiety can trigger compulsive gambling.
- Some individuals who are given medications that treat parkinson’s disease have been observed to develop compulsive gambling.
- The persons who are addicted to alcohol are also likely to develop compulsive gambling.
- Individuals having low levels of serotonin in their brain are also likely to be at higher risk for developing pathological gambling compared to others.
Effects of Compulsive Gambling:
About $5 billion is spent on gambling in the United States every year and the people who are addicted to gambling are having lot of debts which is effecting their financial position and also leads to bankruptcy. Compulsive gambling also effects the family relations and it is observed that families of people with compulsive gambling are more likely to experience domestic violence and child abuse. Rate of suicides among the gambling addicts are more and the people addicted to gambling also more likely to go to prison as it is regarded as a criminal activity in some countries. Children of the parents who are addicted to gambling are at high risk of suffering from depression, behavior problems, and substance abuse.
