Gambling & the Brain
Understanding the Impact
Learn about gambling and how it affects the brain in this short video produced by Brain Connections.
This resource translates complex gambling research into an easy-to-understand visual format, helping you see exactly what happens beneath the surface when you play.
Video Credit: Balodis, I. & Querney, D. (2019). Retrieved from www.brainconnections.ca.
The Reward
System
When you gamble, your brain’s reward system lights up, making you feel excited. You can also feel excited just thinking about gambling or being reminded of it—such as seeing an ad for your favourite casino, payday, memories of your last win, or hearing others talk about their wins.
Why is it hard to stop?
It can be difficult to recognize when it’s time to stop playing. There are many reasons why people have trouble walking away from gambling, including:
01. Rewards & Enjoyment
The feelings of excitement, social participation, and pure enjoyment keep the brain wanting more.
02. Chasing Losses
The powerful psychological urge to try and win money back after a loss, which almost always leads to losing even more.
03. Game Features
Many gambling products have built-in psychological game features specifically engineered to keep you playing longer.
When it becomes an addiction
Practicing safer play habits can help. But some individuals may begin to develop problems with gambling. When this happens, it’s important to seek help.
Gambling can cause new habits to form that can be hard to break. This can lead an individual to feel out of control.