Science underpins everything, from computing to the gambling industry, and punters have been trying to beat the bank for as long as there have been numbers.
When you gamble, your brain releases dopamine which makes you feel excited. This effect happens whether you are winning or losing as your body produces this neurological response for either.
Gambling also comes with other potential rewards like the chance of a win, social participation and fun and entertainment. Although most of us can walk away when we lose, for some people, the release of the feel-good neurotransmitter can lead to problems because once the thrill of the moment takes over, some gamblers have a hard time recognising when it is time to stop playing.
For some gamblers, their hobby can become an addiction spiralling out of control to such an extent that they will continue to gamble to win back the money they have lost (this is called chasing losses).
When gambling changes from an enjoyable pastime into a gambling addiction, the brain’s rewards system becomes altered by the problem, resulting in new habits that are hard to break. Gambling addiction (along with other addictions) can lead to feeling out of control, secrecy, spending money set aside for other purposes, arguments, divorce and bankruptcy.
Various factors can put a person at risk of developing a gambling problem. Numerous studies show characteristics such as available resources, age, substance abuse, and cultural background. Environment and socioeconomic status might also increase the chances of someone developing a gambling problem.
One study, the Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling explores various factors associated with gambling addictions, breaking them down by gambling-specific factors.
At the opening of this article, we spoke about gamblers trying to beat the bank for as long as there have been numbers. One popular casino game, both online and off, is slot machines.
Some gamblers tried to cheat, trying to prove magnets can affect slot machines. When slot machines were made of metal, players could sometimes spin the reels and then use a magnet to halt the machine in progress when it landed on a winning combination. Online sites use random number generators to spin the reels and win combinations, making it impossible to predict the outcome.
Online gambling sites are very aware of the importance of responsible gambling, offering help and advice to gamblers and their families and friends with direct links to support lines specifically for gambling addictions.
Players can also self-help and opt out of being able to gamble on a specific site for some time (six-month minimum). Gamblers can also set their limits and will be notified by the online gambling site if they go over their monthly budget.
Online gambling sites, including online casinos, are here to stay. Millions of people log in to enjoy some time on their favourite game, and as games are playable over all platforms, it is easy to have a bet or wager from wherever you happen to be, and at any time you choose.
Knowing what triggers an enjoyable pastime into something darker is useful. Recognising the symptoms that your hobby might become out of control means that you can seek help sooner rather than later, and knowing why it happened can take away a lot of the shame that people feel who have the gambling bug.
