Research suggests that there is a relationship between alcohol and riskier styles of gambling, particularly among regular or problem gamblers. Some people even think think it is the alcohol that 'triggers' them to gamble more than they can afford to lose. Alcohol can also make it more difficult to stop gambling as inhibitions are lowered.

1. Alcohol And Gambling Issues Articles
2. Drinking And Gambling Issues

Find Fast

Understanding Compulsive GamblingDrinking, Drugging and GamblingWhy Can't They Stop?Help Is Available

Respondents' gambling pathology and alcohol dependence were assessed by the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Results: Current pathological gambling had an overall prevalence of 1.3% as measured by the DIS and 1.9% as measured by the SOGS, with a higher prevalence among minorities and lower. Gambling addiction facts reveal the trends and the consequences of problem gambling and gambling addictions overall. Unlike drugs and alcohol, gambling is an impulse control disorder that triggers addictive brain chemical reactions in much the same way as substance-based addictions. Aims To describe a set of standard questionnaire measures for the assessment of the needs of family members of relatives with alcohol, drug or gambling problems, and to present evidence of their reliability and validity from a series of related studies. Design Includes cross‐sectional and repeated‐measurement studies. Alcohol and gambling have been a marriage made in heaven since the first casinos appeared on the Las Vegas Strip. Gambling venues have long provided a safe environment for playing games and drinking at the same time. And the way the large gambling establishments keep the players coming back is by providing free drinks at the slot machines.

In 48 of the 50 states, a player can walk into a casino and plop down money on a game of chance. Dice, cards, wheels, machines and more are all put to good use here, creating the illusion that money can be easily won and that luck is right around the corner. And sometimes, it’s seen as just plain fun. According to an article in Scientific American, four in five Americans have engaged in this activity at least once in their lives. Numbers like this seem to suggest that gambling is an accepted form of recreation in this country.

The Internet makes gambling even easier. Games like Kitty Glitter (in England) allow people to spend money online in games of chance, and those games can be remarkably enticing for people who feel as though their lives are at loose ends. A woman profiled by the Daily Mail, for example, started playing Kitty Bingo after she lost her job. She wanted to make money, and she became convinced that she could win in this seemingly harmless game. Unfortunately, she lost thousands of dollars instead.

From Recreation to Addiction

When gambling moves from recreation to addiction, the financial and emotional damage can be severe. But some people do yet more damage by blending an addiction to games of chance with an addiction to a substance, including alcohol and street drugs.

Understanding Compulsive Gambling

When people place a bet, either in person or online, the brain anticipates a monetary reward. The person might easily lose, of course, but if even a small win takes place, the brain releases a small amount of a chemical signal associated with pleasure. This dopamine boost can be augmented if the win is big, and sometimes the brain can become somewhat dependent on that little signal of pleasure. In time, the brain cells involved in the pleasure pathway might be unable to function properly unless the person is gambling. This is an addiction, and it’s serious.
People who compulsively gamble show these symptoms:

• Having a preoccupation with gambling. They might gamble first thing in the morning, or they might walk away from work in order to gamble.
• Gambling to alleviate emotional distress. They may experience an emotional shock, a feeling of sadness, or even feelings of guilt might all prompt gambling episodes.

• Being unable to quit. Even if these people don’t want to gamble, they might be unable to make that resolution stick.
• Borrowing or stealing. A gambling habit can be expensive, and some people must resort to deceit or thievery in order to cover their debts.

It’s easy to see how a compulsion like this could lead to financial devastation for a family. But some people augment the despair by adding drugs and alcohol into the mix.

Drinking, Drugging and Gambling

Casinos tend to be relaxed, permissive spaces in which all sorts of behaviors are tolerated. Gamblers can order drinks, and sometimes they can even receive alcoholic beverages at no cost, as long as they continue to gamble. Drug dealers might also find it easy to sell their products in bathrooms, hallways and other public spaces.

Learn More+

At-home users might not have access to this kind of permissiveness, but they might still find it easy enough to stroll into the kitchen for a cocktail, or they might head into the bathroom and grab a bottle of pills from the shelves. Since home gambling tends to be a solo activity, people who engage in it might not have a peer that reminds them to stop using or slow down the use. They might use to excess as a result.

People can blend gambling and substance abuse at almost any point in their lives, but a study of users published in ISRN Addiction suggests that both disorders tend to develop during early adulthood. This makes sense, as this is a time in which the brain is underdeveloped. Portions of the brain that control impulsive tendencies and planning tend to be small and poorly connected during this point in life, and that might make it all too easy for users to start either one habit or both. Their brain cells don’t tell them to stop, so they simply don’t.

In some cases, the development of both disorders comes about due to proximity. It’s easy to access substances while gambling, so the two types of problems become linked. But it’s also possible that brain chemistry plays a role in the development of these two very different types of behaviors.

Researchers know that people who tend to drink or abuse drugs have a low level of activity in the reward centers of the brain. They need the kick that drugs can bring in order to correct a chemical deficiency inside their brain cells. If gambling can provide this same kind of boost, it’s reasonable to suggest that people who have this deficiency might be drawn to gambling, just as they might be drawn to drinking or drugging. The deficiency is to blame, and gambling and using provides a solution to that deficiency.

While it’s unclear just why the two problems go together, and which problem comes first, it is clear that people who gamble tend to have more substance problems than people that don’t gamble. That’s the finding of a study published in the journal 143-150.pdf” target=”_blank”>Alcohol Research and Health, and it just makes sense. Unfortunately, breaking that connection can be quite difficult.

Why Can’t They Stop?

Casino administrators are aware that people tend to use intoxicants while they gamble, and they also seem aware of the fact that people spend more while they’re under the influence. According to an analysis in the Wall Street Journal, Nevada laws require casino owners to stop the play if the player seems impaired, and fines can be levied if the owners don’t comply. Unfortunately, no such fines have been levied, and people who have tried to avoid their debts by citing this law tend to lose in court. It’s clear that leaning on the laws won’t help people to overcome an addiction.

Similarly, a study in the Journal of Gambling Studies suggests that people who have a gambling addiction rarely enter treatment programs because they don’t know about the treatment options available to them, and/or they’re worried about how treatment might work. They might continue to gamble and use substances, simply because they don’t know about the solutions they could tap into.

It’s also important to remember that these are diseases of chemistry, not willpower. People who abuse substances and gamble have done a profound amount of damage to the portions of the brain that control reward and pleasure. They may not be able to make certain types of pleasurable signals without the use of chemicals, and they may need intense amounts of these chemicals to simply feel normal. They can’t just shut these processes off without help. They need the assistance that a treatment program can provide.

Help Is Available

In time, they may find that they simply don’t need the effects of drugs in order to heal. Instead, they can lean on their own strength and newfound skills in order to stay away from the games and the drugs. Foundations Recovery Network treatment programs can play a key role in this kind of healing. Please call, and our admissions coordinators can help you to find a program that’s just right for you or for the person you love.

In a professional treatment program, people who have these dual disorders can:

• Learn more about how their addictions develop
• Develop strong abstinence skills
• Discuss prior trauma
• Resolve family conflicts

Continue Reading

PsychMed's Dr Jane Oakes recently joined our peer support forums for a special Q&A event on the relationship between alcohol use and gambling behaviours. Jane has extensive experience treating people experiencing gambling-related issues and addictions including drugs and alcohols. She has published articles and given invited presentations and workshops in this area both nationally and internationally. Many of our members feel that alcohol is a major trigger for them, so they took the opportunity to ask lots of helpful questions.

Answers have been prepared by Dr Jane Oakes, supported by Dr Quentin Black and assisted by Rachel Aves.

Check out her answers below:

I wonder if there is anything that you recommend for people looking to stop or cut down their gambling and their drinking at the same time?

I would firstly like to acknowledge the strength of people beginning the pathway to recovery. Just reading this section is a start to regaining control of your life.
An essential factor for recovery is support from those around you, including professionals with experience of helping people with gambling issues. When people stop gambling and drinking alcohol, they often experience a wide range of emotions, so reaching out for support at this time is essential. Just having someone to talk to about how you're feeling can help.
Furthermore, if you’re just beginning to question if gambling may be affecting you or a loved one, reaching out for support is essential, even though it may be daunting. Please do not let this stop you from reaching out. People who take this first step towards recovery admit once they reached out for help, they feel relief.
It is also important to have the correct information about issues related to gambling and alcohol. This information empowers people with essential tools and strategies to help someone or themselves.
I will discuss some other strategies in my answers to the questions below.

Could you discuss the biological association between alcohol and gambling?

It is common for people who are experiencing gambling-related problems to also have issues related to alcohol.
Alcohol and gambling have similar biological processes in common, including:

• strong urges
• overwhelming and intrusive thoughts
• impulsivity and loss of control, and
• feelings of irritability and agitation when you can’t drink or gamble.

It’s therefore not surprising that both behaviours involve the same biological mechanism where the ventral tegmentum releases the brain chemical Dopamine, which forms part of the brain's reward system. When people drink or gamble, the reward system is flooded with Dopamine, which makes the person feel good.

Dopamine is designed to make us feel good and reward positive and pro-social activities that are life sustaining so we repeat them. For example, engaging in activities such as procreating, eating healthy food, and drinking water. However, other activities like, eating a sweet dessert, listening to music, and exercising also release Dopamine.
When people engage in gambling and drinking alcohol, this also stimulates the Dopamine pathway but causes a surge of Dopamine. Over time this excessive release of Dopamine leads to cravings and a motivation to continue to gamble and drink alcohol. This creates and maintains gambling and alcohol problems because the urge to engage in these behaviours and feel the rush of Dopamine becomes overwhelming and difficult to resist.
Additionally, recent UK medical neuroimaging research has shown that alcohol and gambling behaviours light up the same regions of the brain called the Nucleus Accumbance. This region is involved in the reward centre, where emotions are processed.
With the correct psychological interventions these processes can be adjusted through the use of cognitive and behavioural techniques that can assist in reprogramming our thinking and eliminating urges.
If you are experiencing gamble-related issues, specialised treatment programs can be beneficial as they use best practice techniques that can help you to eliminate this behavioural response and regain control of your life.

How does alcohol hinder the road to gambling recovery? How hard is it to quit one without quitting the other?

Alcohol And Gambling Issues Articles

Alcohol can exacerbate gambling problems by impacting on the gambler's ability to think clearly about their financial decisions and exercise their better judgement when gambling. The gambler becomes more disinhibited with poor impulse control when drinking alcohol and may gamble more than they were
initially prepared to bet.
Excessive use of alcohol further impairs the capacity for sound decision-making by damaging the parts of our brain responsible for reasoning and self-control, the frontal and prefrontal lobes. This allows the mesolimbic system, which is associated with primitive and instinctive urges, to operate without constraint. The result can be impulsive choices and behaviours, such as uncontrolled gambling and other pleasure-seeking behaviours.
It is at this time that the gambler is least likely to stop gambling once they have started until all their available money is spent. Realising they have spent more than intended often causes gamblers significant distress and they may be drawn to drink more alcohol in an attempt to escape this negative emotional distress.
Some of the feelings of shame and regret associated with these gambling harms will help fuel alcohol use.

How much of a cumulative risk does alcohol play when paired with problem gambling (mental health, relationships, the extent of gambling, recovery)?

Alcohol is strongly associated with impulsivity and increased acts of violence during use. Alcohol withdrawal and use is also strongly associated with irritability and has a corrosive effect on interpersonal relationships.
People with gambling-related problems have more significant physical and mental health problems than non‐problem gamblers. For example, they are more likely to have issues with alcohol and severe mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Gambling and alcohol can provide some people experiencing these emotions a temporary escape, but this escape leads to more problems. Without professional support to deal with these mental health issues, recovery from gambling and alcohol can be affected, as people will turn to these behaviours as a way to cope.

Given that increased distress is correlated to continued gambling, how can loved ones support a problem gambler who refuses to seek outside help?

It is normal to find it frustrating and upsetting to help someone struggling with a gambling issue, especially when they refuse to seek help. Often when loved ones or close friends are caught in a cycle of dependency, it is reasonable to feel the need to be responsible for helping them. People in this position often feel helpless and powerless.
It is difficult to know how best to support those struggling with gambling, which is why it is crucial to seek support and sound advice. Talking to qualified, trained health professionals can help guide how best to assist the person in need of support without inadvertently facilitating the behaviour.
In these circumstances, when you may feel powerless to help just being available to listen and offer support is essential. At the same time, it is important to seek assistance for your own mental health if you are struggling, feeling distressed, or overwhelmed.

What surprised me was how my husband could hide his alcohol and gambling addiction in plain sight of me. We have since separated, and in hindsight, I can see clearly all the signs. Why do you think, as a partner that I was blinded to this for so long?

This is not an uncommon story. In our closest relationships we often do not want to so see the negative signs, and we naturally want to defend, make excuses, justify, and rationalise the behaviours we do not agree with or understand. It’s also a natural tendency for us to want to explain away and defend our partners, children, or even work colleagues’ behaviours.
Sometimes when support is offered we can respond negatively, leaving the significant other to be afraid to challenge or doubt their own observations.

One of the reasons we try to forgive and tolerate is that these values are an integral part of relationships and bad choices and behaviours result from dependence, poor decisions, and bad actions.
Remember that these bad choices and dependent behaviours do not mean the person is bad. We often want to be tolerant and offer forgiveness and support, as these are the good parts of a relationship. However, it is essential to remember that ultimately, we must not forget the person with the dependence needs to take personal responsibility for change.
It can take time for the person with the gambling or alcohol issue to develop insight that they have a problem and begin to take personal responsibility for seeking and engaging in help. For some, the continuing cycle of lapse and relapse becomes overwhelming for the significant other, and they come to the point where they need to consider their own mental and capacity to continue supporting the person.

It was difficult for me to come to terms with my blindness as I am one who values truth and honesty. Do you think perhaps I tricked my mind into believing everything was okay?

People sometimes say they feel that they should have noticed a problem sooner. However, remember that the person gambling may have gone to great lengths to hide it from you. This is usually because the person with a gambling problem is trying desperately to win back the money they have lost. They become caught in a vicious cycle of trying to win the money back and once started, this cycle can be hard to break without professional help. Thoughts of winning back the money lost to pay off all debts can fuel an overwhelming desire or urge to gamble. This urge becomes difficult to resist and if money is available it can become impossible for some to stop the cycle.
You may see the signs of someone caught in this cycle, as their moods may fluctuate rapidly from extreme agitation to gambling to depression after the money is lost. At this time, the gambler may be faced with the consequences of their gambling. This can become too painful to tolerate so gambling becomes a focus in an attempt to win back the money and make everything okay. However, this rarely happens and the cycle is repeated. It is at this time the gambler often admits that money loses its value. Therefore, it is important that you ensure your finances are safe. Check out some measures you can take to protect your finances and assets:

• Talking to a financial counsellor on 1800 007 007 they are open Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm

Drinking And Gambling Issues

Self-Care is Important

When supporting someone it is important that you take time out for yourself. Therefore, if you suspect someone close to you is having an issue with gambling, I encourage you to seek some support for yourself. Just having someone to listen to your concerns will help reduce your distress and provide you with some skills about how best to help the person you are worried about.
There are some great tips on this website to get you started.

Reaching Out for Support

You can call the Gambling Help counsellors today, it’s free, confidential and available 24/7 if you would like to have a chat or be referred to a gambling counsellor. Each state provides free and confidential support for people who are concerned about someone’s gambling. Call 1800 858 858.
Sometimes people act out of character when caught in the vicious cycle of gambling. If you need to talk to someone about domestic violence, family violence or sexual assault call the 1800 RESPECT LINE - 1800 737 732.
Thank you so much for your time and fantastic answer Dr Jane & the PsychMed team! We are all so grateful.
Share your thoughts below.
Take care!

About PsychMed

PsychMed provides a free and confidential program in South Australia for people experiencing gambling-related issues. This program has shown success in helping individuals struggling with gambling to regain control of their lives. If you or someone close to you is in need of some help we encourage you to call and speak to one of our friendly team members who will assist. Please call PsychMed on08 8232 2424.

If you'd like to talk to someone about your alcohol use, contact the Australian Drug Information Service in your state.

The Gambling Help Online forums are a place for anyone affected by problems relating to gambling, including those with lived experience, friends and family. Share your experience and strategies, connect, be inspired, and motivate others. The forums are safe, confidental, professionally moderated and free of judgment. Join the discussion today.