There is no known cause for this disorder. What Causes Gambling Addictions? This is consistent with behavior patterns observed in other addictions. Other risk factors such as the ones listed below play a role in the addiction as well. Since other conditions and/or circumstances can influence a person’s overall behavior, a true gambling addiction exists apart from any other pre-existing conditions. Gambling addiction describes an impaired ability to resist the impulse to gamble despite the harmfu This was the first formal recognition of behavioral addiction in the psychiatry text, which is considered the "gold standard" in the field of mental health. Unfortunately, this almost always leads to a cycle in which the gambler feels they must win back their losses, and the cycle goes on until the person is forced to seek rehabilitation to break their habit. This means, the symptoms of gambling addiction must be able to stand on their own without any other co-occurring influences. Customarily, this involves making financial wagers on games or activities that rely heavily on chance. However, some specialists believe that the combination of biological, genetic, and environmental factors may play a role. What Causes Gambling Addiction? In some cases, the condition runs in families. What are the symptoms of gambling addiction? An uncontrollable desire for the rush or excitement of winning can lead to compulsive gambling. It’s difficult to come up with the exact causes of gambling addiction. Although there are links between family gambling behavior, cause and effect cannot be determined. Gambling addiction, also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling, problem gambling, or gambling disorder involves maladaptive patterns of gambling behavior that the individual persists with, despite negative consequences. Gambling Addiction Diagnosis. It is also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling. What causes gambling addiction? You may not realize the effects that gambling addiction can have, but this illness is just as damaging and harmful as drug or alcohol addictions.. Gambling is a Behavioral Addiction What is Gambling Addiction? Nobody knows the exact cause, but many factors can be involved. Learn more at psychiatry.org. Gambling involves risking something of value, in the hopes of gaining something of greater worth. Gambling disorder involves repeated problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems or distress. Gambling addiction can occur when a person feels that they are in financial ruin and can only solve their problems by gambling what little they have in an attempt to get a large sum of money. Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction diagnosis introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition (DSM-5). If you or a loved one are dealing with a habitual dependence on gambling, this could be a sign of an addiction.