The Reward Hub involves parts of the brain that respond to excitement, uncertainty and unpredictable outcomes. These changes involve two parts of the brain: And, these changes contribute to gambling feeling so out of control. Iris Balodis tell us that there are real changes in the brain with gambling addiction. In Brain Connections, Deirdre Querney and Dr. So, what do we know about what happens in the brain with problem gambling? And, that while dopamine plays a role with substance addictions it doesn’t play a central role with compulsive gambling. It turns out that the role of dopamine in addiction is complex. In this way, pursuing a dopamine rush becomes a central aspect of addiction. The story goes that dopamine trains your brain to pursue more of these pleasurable and sometimes addictive experiences and to avoid unpleasant ones. It tells us that a chemical we produce in our brains called dopamine is released in pleasurable or rewarding experiences, particularly when using alcohol, drugs, but also with gambling. There is a common story we hear with addiction. What Happens in the Brain With Gambling Addiction? If you prefer to tune in directly from Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, click on the red “Listen and Subscribe” button below. Listen now to episode 40 of Fold em by clicking on the green play button at the top of the blog. Together they created Brain Connections where you can find a video and informative handouts on gambling addiction and the brain.

Iris Balodis, a professor at McMaster University and Associate Director of the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research.

In episode 40 of Fold em, hear my conversation with Deirdre Querney, MSW, who has worked as a problem gambling counsellor in Ontario for more than 20 years and Dr. Where to find a great video and handouts that explain more about gambling problems and the brain How to re-wire your brain to help resist gambling urges and other addictions How changes to the brain from compulsive gambling are different from changes with substance addiction How people with gambling addiction have a harder time stopping or pulling back from “positive rewards” How gambling addiction changes the brain - making it hard to stop Most people make a pledge of “never again” or “the next time will go differently” only to find themselves back in the same place.Ī common question with gambling problems is, “Why can’t I stop?” In episode 40 of our podcast, Fold em: Help for Gambling Problems, we provide answers to this question by looking at what happens in the brain with gambling addiction. When gambling gets out of control it’s upsetting and confusing.

How to resist gambling urges