The psychologist named the reasons for gambling addiction

Gambling addiction often begins unnoticeably: at first, a person plays for fun, excitement, or to distract themselves from problems. However, gambling uses the same brain mechanisms as other types of addiction. Each win is accompanied by a release of dopamine, and the brain is particularly sensitive to its unpredictability, which makes the game addictive. Olga Kushnareva, a family psychologist and psychotherapist, told Izvestia about this on July 24.

"The main trap is that a person never knows when the next win will come. The brain begins to live in anticipation — what if it gets lucky now. Over time, the pleasure of the game decreases, and the desire to continue grows," explained the expert.

After losing, players tend to regain control of the situation, trying to recoup losses. This is one of the most common cognitive traps: each new bet is perceived as an opportunity to fix the past, although the risk only increases.

People with high impulsivity, risk-taking, emotional instability, and difficulties with self-control are especially vulnerable. The risk group also includes those who are experiencing stress, loneliness, financial difficulties or a crisis in their personal lives. For them, the game becomes a way to temporarily disconnect from reality and experience the illusion of a quick solution to problems.

The first signs of addiction appear long before serious debts: thoughts about the game become obsessive, expenses exceed plans, and a person hides real expenses from loved ones. It is important to pay attention not to the amount of losses, but to the loss of control over the process.

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Over time, addiction affects the psyche: anxiety, guilt, mood swings appear, and relationships with loved ones worsen. Often the problem goes unnoticed, as the appearance and work responsibilities remain normal, and the signs of addiction are hidden.

Kushnareva emphasized that treatment requires working not only with the gaming habit, but also with the causes that have made a person vulnerable: stress, anxiety, loneliness or inner emptiness. Psychotherapy, support groups, financial constraints, denial of access to gaming platforms, and open conversation with loved ones are effective.

"The mistake of many is that they consider the problem solved if a person stops playing. Real recovery begins when he learns to live without the constant search for quick wins and strong emotions, regaining control over his life," the expert concluded.

Evgeny Bekhterev, Deputy Director for Research at the Bekhterev National Research Medical Center of Psychiatry and Neurology, Co-chairman of the Clinical Narcology Section of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists Krupitsky said that Russia is preparing unified clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ludomania. The document is planned to be developed by the end of 2026 and approved in 2027.