Every major city has areas that are known for their big casinos and flashing lights. Whether it is Las Vegas or Atlantic City, the experience of gambling promotes a high accelerated lifestyle that is full of big risks. The lights, the music and the entertainment all serve to make the experience of gambling as exciting as possible. However, sometimes this amped up lifestyle can get out of hand a lead into a full blown gambling addiction.
In fact, a new study published in the journal Neuroscience found that there are many casino ingredients that propel addictive behaviors. The most influential are the lights and loud music. Dr. Catharine Winstanley, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, mentioned in a press release how did not believe it was a coincidence that all casinos were adorned with flashy lights and loud sounds. Furthermore, in a casino, time stops. The experience gambling is accelerated to a whole new level. There are no windows or clocks and oxygen is even pumped to produce a climate of loss and reward. The study even found that the flashing lights and noise contributed to addictive behaviors.
In an effort to understand the allure of the casino further, researchers created a “rat casino.” Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. A cage was built with flashing lights, loud music and mini-games that produce random losses and rewards. Researchers trained rats to play gambling-like games. The rats had to choose between four reward and punishment options and were tested for their response with and without lights and loud sounds.
The study revealed that rats in the casino were more likely to engage in risky “gambling-like behavior” when bright lights and loud sounds were present. However, without the lights, they were less likely. In addition, when researchers blocked one particulate dopamine receptor, their addictive behaviors diminished.
The dopamine receptor that was manipulated was called D3. The rat casino supported the theory that both biological mechanism and underlying compulsive behaviors play a role in addiction. It also agreed with the theory that flashing lights and louds sounds played a role in increasing the vulnerability to gambling addiction.
Dr. Catharine Winstanley concluded,
“Anyone who’s ever designed a casino game or played a gambling game will tell you that of course sound and light cues keep you more engaged, but now we can show it scientifically.”
Regardless of what causes gambling addiction, the honest fact is that gambling can be just as, even more, addictive than any other addictions.
The risks of gambling addiction include:
- Craving for gaming
- Depression
- Feelings of remorse after gambling
- Increasing financial debt
- Loss of control
- Loss of sleep
While gambling can be fun to do on occasion, for others it can be a full blown addiction. Gambling can become compulsive behavior overtime. Typically gambling is a progressive addiction so seeking help before the addiction becomes worse is critical. Gambling addiction can have many negative, psychological, physical and social consequences.
As with any addiction, gambling is harmful if done in excess. People who suffer from gambling addiction can suffer from depression, migraine, distress, intestinal disorder and other related problems. Ins one case, gambling can lead to suicide. As gambling addiction becomes more known in the addiction community, hopefully more gambling addicts will be willing to come out and say they need help as well.
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