How The Brain Gets Addicted To Gambling

Man holding smart phone with blurred background. For Graphic display montage.
Man holding smart phone with blurred background. For Graphic display montage.

It doesn’t matter if you are a hardcore gambler or not, there is a very good chance that you have come across at least one or two gambling advertisements in the past couple of months. Heck, it seems that every time you get online or turn on a sports game, you are coming across some kind of casino advertisement. Well, what’s even more troubling is that these big providers have been called out for targeting gambling addicts. Is this true? It very well could be. However, what you need to know is that gambling is addictive and it affects the bran in a variety of ways. This article will look at those ways and help you determine if your brain is being affected by one of your favorite past time.

It Tricks The Brain

When it comes right down to it, it is the uncertainty that is the biggest draw at any casino. You might not know if you are going to win or lose, but the feeling that there is a chance is enough to keep you coming back over and over again. How does this happen? Why is your brain feeling this way? It really has to do with dopamine in the brain. The dopamine is nothing more than a neurotransmitter that releases hormones into the body. However, these are not just any hormones. No, they are a feel-good hormone, which pretty much means that they provide the body with good feelings. Everyone likes feeling good right? Well, when you think you are going to hit it big, you are feeling good. This is one of the reasons that people chase the pot and just can’t stop until they are broke.

Longer Gambling At Faster Rates

There is no denying that mobile roulette is everywhere. And, it could be one of the most dangerous games out there besides slots. Why is this the case? Simply because it is one of the loudest games that there is. Go to any casino like idn poker, online or land-based, and you will see that it is the slots and roulette sections that are the loudest. There are noises from the crowd, the dealers are calling out numbers, and it is just all-out excitement. Why does this matter? Well, this is all a distraction. Not just any distraction, but a good distraction that will trick the brain into gambling longer for longer periods of time. This is something that every casino wants their patrons to do, and they have devised the perfect way for them to just that with these games.

That Near Miss Factor

Speaking of uncertainty, it also that near-miss factor that comes into play. How many times have you lost at the poker table or blackjack table, but still felt invigorated? Probably more times than you would like to admit. Do you know why you are feeling this way? It is because you thought you almost one. It is almost the same thing as knowing if you are not going to win or not. Just the thought of winning is enough to keep you coming back to the tables, but the thought of almost winning is enough to make you reach in your pocket and pull out your very last dollar bill.