Gambling addiction is a serious mental health condition that may lead to devastating financial, emotional, and social consequences if left untreated or ignored. While gambling can begin as an occasional form of entertainment, for some individuals it evolves into harmful behavior that may feel impossible to stop.
If you or someone you care about feels hopeless, helpless, or has thoughts of self-harm related to gambling, please seek help immediately. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact emergency services (911) for immediate assistance. Recovery is possible, and effective treatments and supports are available.
Gambling Defined and Its Modern Scope
Gambling involves risking something of value (typically money or high-value items) on an event with an uncertain outcome in hopes of a greater rate of return, i.e. receiving a greater reward. Traditional forms of gambling include casino games, lottery tickets, in-person sports betting/ horse racing, and bingo. However, in recent years, gambling has moved beyond the physical spaces of casinos and arenas.
With the rise of mobile sports betting apps, users can now gamble instantly from personal devices at any time of day. As of 2025, 39 U.S. states, along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have legalized mobile app sports betting, expanding access to potentially addictive behavior via 24/7 access.<sup>1</sup>
The Consequences of Gambling
Gambling addiction is unique from other habit/substance use disorders in that it does not have any hallmark physical symptoms, however its potential outcomes are no less destructive.
Common consequences include:<sup>2</sup>
Severe financial distress and debt accumulation
Job loss or impaired work performance
Physical health decline related to stress, insomnia, or neglect of medical needs
Relationship and family conflict, including intimate partner violence (IPV)
Legal issues such as theft, fraud, or incarceration
Worsening mental health, particularly depression and anxiety
Substance use as a coping mechanism
Suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
A 2022 Australian study estimated that 4.2% of suicides over a 10-year period were gambling-related, highlighting the disorder’s potential lethality.<sup>3</sup> Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.2% of adults meet criteria for gambling disorder<sup>4</sup>, and as many as 11.9% of men and 5.5% of women experience some level of gambling-related harm.<sup>5</sup>
What Is Gambling Disorder?
Gambling disorder is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a behavioral addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). It is characterized by persistent and recurrent gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family, and occupational functioning.<sup>6</sup>
Diagnostic Criteria
A diagnosis typically involves meeting four or more of the following symptoms within a 12-month period:<sup>6</sup>
Preoccupation with gambling or frequent reliving of past gambling experiences
Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve excitement
Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
Restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop gambling
Gambling as a way to escape from distress or negative emotions
Chasing losses (“trying to win it back”)
Lying to conceal gambling behavior
Jeopardizing relationships, employment, or educational opportunities
Relying on others for financial rescue due to gambling losses
These criteria reflect a spectrum of severity, from mild to severe, rather than a single threshold. Many individuals experience harmful patterns long before meeting full diagnostic criteria.
Risk Factors and Vulnerable Populations
Not everyone who gambles develops an addiction. However, several biological, psychological, and environmental factors can increase risk.<sup>7</sup>
Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Individuals with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders face higher rates of gambling problems. Shared underlying mechanisms such as impulsivity and reward-seeking behavior can create a positive feedback loop, where the positive feelings associated with a “win” (or a perceived “almost win”) further incentivizes an individual to continue their gambling behavior.
Gender and Age
Men are more likely to develop gambling disorder, often at a younger age. Women may begin gambling later in life but tend to progress to harmful patterns faster than men.
Impulsivity and Sensation-Seeking Traits
People who thrive on risk, or thrill-seeking behavior may be particularly vulnerable. For some, gambling may be a maladaptive way to regulate emotional states or fulfill unmet psychological needs.
Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Exposure to early trauma, neglect, or abuse increases susceptibility to addictive behaviors later in life. For some individuals, gambling may serve as an escape from emotional pain or unresolved stress.
Socioeconomic Factors
Financial strain and unstable work conditions can drive individuals toward gambling as a perceived “solution” to hardship, even as it worsens their financial challenges.
Pharmacological Triggers
Dopamine agonists are a class of medications prescribed for Parkinson’s disease or restless leg syndrome. In rare cases individuals taking these medications may develop compulsive behaviors that include gambling.
Treatment and Recovery
There is a current lack of research that points to a single “gold-standard” treatment, however evidence shows that broad, flexible, psychological interventions can effectively treat gambling addiction. Recovery often involves addressing both the gambling behavior and any co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns. Some of the most common interventions include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help individuals identify and change distorted beliefs (i.e. the illusion of control over chance events) and teaches coping strategies to resist urges associated with problem gambling. In a clinical setting, individuals can learn to recognize triggers, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and replace the urge to gamble with healthier activities.<sup>8</sup>
Behavioral Therapies
Behavioral approaches focus on modifying learned associations and reducing the urge to gamble. Common techniques include exposure therapy, which gradually desensitizes individuals to gambling triggers; relaxation and mindfulness techniques, which help regulate stress and impulse; and relapse prevention planning, which mitigates high-risk situations through safety planning.<sup>8</sup>
Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders refer to the presence/overlap of both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. There is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication for gambling disorder, however treating co-occurring disorders with pharmacotherapy may help individuals reduce their problematic gambling symptoms. Additionally, some studies have shown that the medication naltrexone may be helpful with decreasing the intensity of gambling urges.<sup>7,9</sup>
Safety Planning and Support
For individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harm urges, developing a safety plan with a trusted clinician or peer network can support individuals experiencing crisis. A typical safety plan will highlight a specific individual’s warning signs, remind them of established coping strategies, and provide quick access to crisis contacts (911/988, local behavioral health crisis centers, counselors, sponsors, family members, partners, etc.).<sup>10</sup>
Social and Peer Support
Individuals often keep their gambling behaviors a secret until the negative consequences are difficult to hide. Recovery can depend on rebuilding social connections and increasing personal accountability within a social support network. Some support types include:<sup>7</sup>
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and similar peer support programs provide nonjudgmental environments where individuals can share experiences and strategies for maintaining recovery.
Family therapy can help repair relationships, rebuild trust, and support loved ones affected by gambling-related harm.
Despite a relative shortage of long-term, high-quality outcome studies, emerging evidence shows that structured therapy, social support, and integrated care can significantly improve recovery outcomes.
Public Health and Prevention Efforts
An individual suffering from gambling addiction does not exist in a vacuum. Addiction in all forms affects individuals, families, and communities – therefore prevention and education must also occur within the public health and policy spheres.
Key strategies can include:<sup>7</sup>
Education and Awareness: Public campaigns that explain the risks of gambling and encourage early help-seeking
Age and Access Restrictions: Enforcing minimum age limits for gambling, especially on digital platforms
Advertising Regulation: Mandating clear, visible warning labels on gambling ads and limiting exposure to high-risk audiences
Location Reduction: Decreasing the density of casinos, slot machines, and betting outlets
Data-Driven Policy: Monitoring gambling trends and harm statistics to inform responsible legislation and intervention efforts
Finding Hope and Support
Recovery from gambling addiction is often a non-linear process. It can involve setbacks, reflection, and renewed commitment over long periods of time. However, individuals and communities worldwide have regained control of their finances, relationships, and mental health through evidence-based treatment and social support.
If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling addiction:
Call or text 988 in the U.S. for 24/7 crisis support.
Visit Gamblers Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) for peer-led meetings and resources.
Speak with a licensed therapist or addiction counselor specializing in behavioral addictions.
You are not alone, and recovery is achievable.
