Posted on 03/25/2025 by admin

Drinking and gambling: a comparison with implications for theories of addiction


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It’s less about a single bad night and more about a consistent pattern. You might notice you’re spending more time or money on drinking and gambling than you plan to. Maybe you find yourself hiding your habits from others, neglecting responsibilities, or feeling unable to stop even when you know there are negative consequences.

Defining Gambling Addiction

Examination of the predictor and outcome variables indicated that pre- and post-beverage CGNG failures, TLFB total drinks, the negative expectancy subscale of the GEQ and each of the G-TLFB measures were positively skewed. Although use of alternative distributions for analyses (e.g., negative binomial or Poisson) is typically preferable to transformation of variables, it is not possible to include count variables as predictors in a multi-level model within Mplus; thus, variables were log transformed. We also created composite scores for impulsivity (from subscale scores from the ZKPQ-IIIR and BIS-11) and gambling cognitions (from subscale scores from the GABS and the positive expectancy subscale of the GEQ). Table 1 presents descriptive statistics for all continuous predictor and outcome variables and Table 2 provides bivariate correlations.

Level-1 main effects for total trials played

It has been reported here in order to further underline the possible dissociation between impaired executive functioning and decision-making. Of interest for this contribution, here we intend to discuss and propose how this decision-making dysfunction could be one of the main common grounds between BD and problem gambling. This assumption is supported by the findings focusing on decision-making in adolescents with gambling (e.g., Ciccarelli et al., 2016; Cosenza et al., 2017) and adolescents with BD.

Shared Causes and Risk Factors

  • Finally, we examined the hypothesis that alcohol effects on behavioral inhibition (CGNG performance) would mediate effects of alcohol on gambling outcomes.
  • If you are ready to take that first step, or just need some guidance, then reach out to a treatment provider.
  • This fundamental restructuring of the brain around a chemical substance is why there was so much controversy that something like gambling couldn’t cause an addiction, because there is no introduction of an external chemical for the brain to crave.
  • You can start by contacting your healthcare provider, a mental healthcare professional, or support groups and resources for gambling disorder.
  • Based on the AAM (Steele & Josephs, 1990), alcohol effects were expected to be moderated by each of the aforementioned factors, showing stronger relationships among those who received alcohol versus placebo.

No significant association was found for regional versus metropolitan Victorians. Those who generally drink more heavily and use alcohol as an intoxicant at more risk of becoming involved in risky gambling (Welte et al., 2004). Other studies show that those who problem gamble shared impairments in risky decision-making and cognitive impulsivity with individuals that are alcohol dependent (Kaltenegger et al., 2019; Lawrence et al., 2009). Additionally, HED is interesting to consider in association with risky gambling, as one might expect alcohol’s effects to become particularly salient after multiple drinks (Kyngdon & Dickerson, 1999; Welte et al., 2004).

Why Teenagers Are at Risk for BD and Gambling

When you’re dealing with intertwined issues like problem gambling and excessive drinking, it’s tempting to tackle them one at a time. However, because they so often fuel each other, addressing only one can be like trying to fix a leak with a bucket instead of patching the hole. Research shows that when both problems are present, treatment is more complex. An integrated approach that addresses both behaviors simultaneously is often the most effective path forward. This method treats you as a whole person, recognizing how these habits are connected in your life and brain chemistry.

As the brain restructures itself around the use of the drug, the natural stimuli that the human brain would reward before are lessened. This fundamental restructuring of the brain around a chemical substance is why there was so much controversy that something like gambling couldn’t cause an addiction, because there is no introduction of an external chemical for the brain to crave. Alcohol use disorder and pathological gambling are common co-occurring conditions. The supposed thrill of uncertainty that gambling brings can lead to addiction on its own.

Implementing such dysfunctional behaviors (BD and gambling) during that critical period of growth becomes potentially predictive of future brain, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological alterations, which can manifest themselves through functional consequences over time. Table 3 presents information on bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions of alcohol use with risky gambling (i.e. moderate-risk, and problem-gambling) vs. no-risk gambling. The results show that respondents who were males, from a younger age group, spoke a language other than English at home, and had lower personal income were more likely to report risky gambling in the past 12 months. Those with a drinking pattern of weekly HED (vs. less frequent or no HED) and those reporting alcohol use during gambling (vs. no alcohol while gambling) were at higher odds of being risky gamblers.

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From casino slots to sports betting, alcohol is almost always part of the picture. It’s a pairing that lines the pockets of businesses but stacks the odds against you. The link between alcoholism and gambling is powerful, creating a dangerous cycle where one habit feeds the other.

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If friends or family have expressed concern, that’s also a significant sign to pay attention to. When we place a bet or have a drink, our brain releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine. This creates a rush of pleasure and reinforces the behavior, making us want to do it again. Over time, our brain can become accustomed to these high levels of dopamine, and the reward from everyday activities starts to feel dull in comparison. What’s particularly risky is that alcohol also impairs our judgment and lowers inhibitions, making it easier to place a bigger bet or keep playing longer than we planned.

Recovering From Alcoholism And Gambling Addiction

Treatment for gambling disorder usually involves counseling, and often support groups. If your loved one seems increasingly preoccupied by gambling, is withdrawing from other areas casino style drinking games of their life, or is noticing negative consequences to their finances, work, or relationships, it could be a sign that this is something to pay closer attention to. When gambling prioritizes a person’s time and becomes a mental preoccupation, it can lead to a loss of productivity at work, school, home, or in other areas. Some people with gambling disorder reach a point they begin selling household items or stealing. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Is it the drinking that causes the gambling problem, or the other way around?

EU Environment newsletters deliver the latest updates about the European Commission’s environmental priorities straight to your inbox. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. Also, besides EF impairments, several studies showed that binge drinkers had poorer decision-making abilities measured with the Iowa Gambling Task (Goudriaan et al., 2007, 2011; Xiao et al., 2009, 2013; Moreno et al., 2012). Seth brings many years of professional experience working the front lines of addiction in both the government and privatized sectors. The Canadian Centre for Addictions offers specialized programs designed specifically for combined substance and behavioural dependencies.

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