The Science of Gambling

Have you ever played the National Lottery? The National lottery is a mild form of gambling. Why do humans gamble? Well, to socialise, have more disposable income and maybe a habit. I have never gambled, although some of my colleagues at university have and they’ve told me it’s a really addictive experience. This raises the question, what the science behind gambling? Is the addiction to gambling similar to that of alcohol or cigarette smoking? Can there be a link between substance addiction and gambling addiction?

Can addictive personalities be treated using drug therapy? Some drugs (opoid antagonists – Naloxone, Naltrexone) are used to treat patients that are dependent on opoid. Are there receptors in the human brains that get switched on when one gambles, Perhaps drug therapy can target and block this fictional receptors in the brain. 

Drug addicts and substance misusers can be treated under the National Health Service (NHS), can gambling addicts be treated under the NHS in the near future if there’s substantial evidence to prove that the act of gambling is affecting one’s health or would they just be turned away and asked to kick their habits.