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Compulsive Gambling Treatment That Understands the Whole Picture

If gambling has gradually taken over more of your life, your bank account, and your sense of well-being than you ever thought it would, know that you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options. And this isn’t a burden you need to carry by yourself.

Compulsive gambling is not simply a lack of self-discipline; it’s a legitimate, diagnosed mental health disorder, and like any other addictive disorder, it responds to treatment, and it can get better. No matter how much your gambling has cost you until now, there’s a way forward, and it can start today.

What Is Compulsive Gambling?

Compulsive gambling, also known as gambling disorder or pathological gambling, is a type of behavioral addiction, meaning it is driven by the same reward pathways in the brain as a substance addiction without a substance being involved.[1]

In cases of compulsive gambling, the behavior itself stimulates a release of dopamine in the brain’s reward system. Placing a bet, whether it’s at a casino, a racetrack, on a lottery ticket, or through a sports betting app, activates the brain’s reward system and is associated with dopamine release involved in reward anticipation and reinforcement.[2] Repeatedly engaging in this behavior can actually alter how the brain responds to risk and reward, making the urge to gamble more like a compulsion and less like a choice.[3]

This is why compulsive gambling has recently joined substance use disorders as an addictive disorder category instead of a simple impulse-control issue. Although the mechanism behind compulsive gambling involves no drugs or alcohol, the underlying mechanism shares many of the same features and processes as that of substance-based addictive disorders.[4]

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Signs of Compulsive Gambling

Some common signs that may indicate someone is experiencing compulsive gambling include:

Preoccupation with gambling, constantly planning the next bet or reliving past wins and losses
Needing to gamble with increasingly larger amounts of money to achieve the same level of excitement
Frequent, continuous, unsuccessful efforts to cut back or stop gambling
Restlessness or irritability when trying to reduce gambling activity
Using gambling as a means to avoid dealing with stress, anxiety, or depression
Chasing losses by gambling more in an attempt to recover money already lost
Lying to friends, family members, or others about the frequency or amount of money used for gambling
Losing or jeopardizing relationships, work, or educational opportunities due to excessive gambling
Relying on other people to relieve a financial crisis caused by gambling

While having one or two of these characteristics in isolation isn’t necessarily indicative of a diagnosis, multiple signs appearing together, especially over an extended period, may be cause enough for serious consideration.

When Does Regular Gambling Cross a Line?

Many people enjoy occasional gambling without developing problems related to it. The line isn’t about how often one gambles or the amount of money they put on a single bet; the line is about control and consequences.

Recreational gambling takes place within the established limits someone sets for themselves, both financially and emotionally, and stops when those boundaries are reached. Problematic gambling, however, is when someone can’t stop despite a genuine desire to do so, when they continue to spend more money or time than initially intended in order to get the same emotional high, or when gambling results in significant harm or consequences, such as financial difficulties, damaged personal relationships, or missed employment or school opportunities, and the person still chooses to continue.

Another clear indicator of problematic behavior is using gambling as a means to cope with negative emotions, as opposed to entertainment, since that pattern is associated with greater gambling severity and poorer outcomes over time.[5]

Who Is More Prone to Compulsive Gambling?

There are several factors that raise the chances that a person’s gambling may move beyond recreational gambling into an actual disorder.

Some examples include:

  • Having a family history of either gambling disorder or substance use disorder
  • A history of impulsive behavior or difficulty regulating one’s feelings
  • Co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or certain personality disorders
  • Using gambling as a form of self-soothing or stimulation

Age and accessibility also play a role in whether someone may experience serious issues related to compulsive gambling. Historically, compulsive gambling was more prevalent among younger and middle-aged men but has expanded greatly in recent years with the rapid rise of internet-based and phone apps. This increased accessibility is now considered a major contributor to gambling-related harm across a much broader range of age groups and demographics than in past years.[6]

Easy, constant access through a phone also changes the risk calculation in ways casino-based gambling never quite did, since bets can be placed by a click of a button and there’s no longer a drive to the casino, creating a natural pause between impulse and action.

Gambling and Substance Use

Compulsive gamblers and substance use disorders have more in common than one might think.

The reason for this relationship stems from similar pathways in the brain involved in reward behaviors, along with the fact that many compulsive gamblers use substances as a way to self-medicate negative emotions, avoid stressful situations, or chase a feeling that daily life doesn’t provide. It is also common for many compulsive gamblers to battle alcohol or substance use disorders, with national survey data finding that around 73% of people with compulsive gambling disorders meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder in their lifetime, and 38% meet criteria for another substance use disorder.[7] This is partly because casinos and other gambling environments typically surround participants with alcohol and because both patterns of use stem from the same underlying vulnerabilities.

Because of this relationship, isolating the treatment of a compulsive gambler from addressing potential co-occurring substances rarely leads to long-term sobriety. Providing treatment that addresses both simultaneously gives someone a more comprehensive plan for recovery.

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Our Testimonials

After three failed attempts at getting sober on my own, I finally admitted I needed help. Ikon’s program gave me the tools I needed to stay clean, not just while I was there, but for life.

Spice Gamer

Recovering Patient

Walking into Ikon, the first thing you experience is the contagious welcoming atmosphere. You can immediately tell by the faces on the clients that this is a safe haven for their recovery journey.

Gerardo Hernandez

Recovering Patient

The staff is super friendly and very helpful. The counselors are knowledgeable and empathetic. I would refer anyone who is struggling and wants help getting into recovery to Ikon.

Amy Hamlin

Recovering Patient

If you want your loved one to get the true help they need to change their lives, then please go to Ikon! Not only are they top notch, but they are lead by amazing professionals who truly want to see people get better.

Vaun Williams

Recovering Patient

Will is an incredible force and values individual client care. Ikon will help plant seeds of hope and love to those in need. Thank you Ikon team for what you are building and developing!!!

jordana blesa

Recovering Patient

Beautiful facility , with wonderful staff! They truly care and want to see you succeed and achieve sobriety . I’m grateful to have worked alongside many of the clinical staff members here !

Christine Pavan

Recovering Patient

Ikon and their staff were very helpful in the communications I’ve had with them. I can tell they really care and put effort into helping someone with addiction. Would highly recommend.

Anthony Vainieri

Recovering Patient

Recently had the opportunity to visit, tour the facility, and meet the leadership team. Exceptional across the board and feel confident this is a healing place for families in recovery.

Donald Rogers Jr.

Recovering Patient

I just referred my first aftercare client to the amazing team at Ikon. They’re an ethical moral leadership group with 60+ years combined experience in the substance abuse treatment space.

frank trainor

Recovering Patient

I was using heavily and convinced I’d destroyed my life. The staff showed me a different path. The program gave me structure and support. The counselor I work with is skilled and genuinely invested.

Angela Rodriguez

Recovering Patient
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We offer extensive specialty treatments to customize your entire recovery:

Executive Program
Vivitrol Treatment
Aftercare
Trauma-Informed Care
Dual Diagnosis
Recovery Capital
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Sober Living

What Gambling Addiction Treatment Looks Like

Treating compulsive gambling looks different from treating a substance use disorder in some genuinely important ways, since there’s no physical detoxification process or substance to remove from the body.

The most successful approaches to treating compulsive gambling include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically designed to target thinking patterns related to compulsive gambling. The main focus areas of CBT for compulsive gamblers involve identifying and modifying the specific cognitive distortions that contribute to continued compulsive betting, including illusions of control, false perceptions of skill or ability, and the gambler’s fallacy.

Financial counseling and structured debt management.

Financial counseling and structured debt management. Compulsive gambling frequently leaves behind significant financial damage, and addressing that damage directly, through budgeting support, debt repayment planning, and sometimes working with a financial counselor, is a component of gambling treatment that has no real equivalent in most substance use programs.

Family therapy focusing on financial betrayal

Family therapy focusing on financial betrayal. The focus of most family therapy for gambling disorders is to restore relationships damaged by the gambler’s actions.

Motivational interviewing

Motivational interviewing. Since there’s no physical withdrawal associated with quitting gambling, motivation to quit is frequently the key element in treating someone for a gambling disorder during the initial stages of treatment.

Support That Understands

People with compulsive gambling often experience a particular kind of isolation stemming from the secrecy and shame surrounding their financial difficulties.

At Ikon Recovery in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, we provide personalized treatment options for both gambling disorders and co-occurring mental health or substance use disorders, built around real understanding rather than a one-size-fits-all program, and we develop each client’s treatment plan based on what’s best suited to their needs.

If your gambling has cost you more than you ever wanted to spend, reach out today to start the conversation and see what your next step could be.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gambling Addiction Treatment

What is the difference between problem gambling and gambling disorder?

Problem gambling refers to any form of gambling causing harm. Gambling disorder, on the other hand, is the clinical designation given when someone’s behaviors meet specific diagnostic criteria for loss of control, preoccupation with gambling, and continuing involvement in gambling despite its adverse effects.

Is inpatient gambling treatment necessary, or is outpatient enough?

It depends on the severity of the disorder and whether co-occurring mental health or substance use disorders are present. Most people achieve successful outcomes through outpatient or intensive outpatient programs; however, others benefit greatly from a more structured and intensive level of care.

Where can I find immediate gambling help?

The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) offers free and confidential support 24/7 for anyone affected by a gambling disorder, whether they’re struggling themselves or supporting a loved one. Ikon Recovery also offers gambling addiction treatment.

Can gambling addiction be treated the same way as drug or alcohol addiction?

Some approaches overlap, such as CBT and peer support, but effective gambling treatment also includes gambling-specific elements, such as financial counseling and self-exclusion planning, that don’t have a direct equivalent in substance use treatment.

Does insurance cover gambling addiction treatment?

Many insurance companies do cover treatment for gambling disorders, particularly when the gambler has also received a dual diagnosis with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Coverage varies among insurers and providers. Contact Ikon Recovery, and we can reach out to your insurance provider directly to see what services are covered under your plan.

Sources

[1] [3] [4] Potenza, M. N. (2008). The neurobiology of pathological gambling and drug addiction: An overview and new findings. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1507), 3181–3189. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2607329/

[2] van Holst, R. J., Veltman, D. J., Büchel, C., van den Brink, W., & Goudriaan, A. E. (2012). Distorted expectancy coding in problem gambling: Is the addictive in the anticipation? Biological Psychiatry, 71(8), 741–748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.12.030

[5] Neophytou, K., Theodorou, M., Artemi, T.-F., Theodorou, C., & Panayiotou, G. (2023). Gambling to escape: A systematic review of the relationship between avoidant emotion regulation/coping strategies and gambling severity. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 27, 126–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.01.004

[6] World Health Organization. (2024, December 2). Gambling. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gambling 

[7] Petry, N. M., Stinson, F. S., & Grant, B. F. (2005). Comorbidity of DSM-IV pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66(5), 564–574. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15889941/Â