Compulsive gambling is a progressive condition that can quietly dismantle a person’s relationships, financial stability, and emotional well-being. At The Heights Treatment, we provide evidence-based, trauma-informed care designed to treat gambling disorder at its roots, not just its symptoms.
Our clinical team specializes in process addictions, offering structured support for individuals facing the complex behavioral patterns that fuel gambling disorder.
Sports betting isn’t fun anymore. Playing card games with family members is no longer a game. Going to the casino has become a compulsion. You have a glove box full of scratch offs.
You’ve realized that instead of feeding yourself, you’re feeding an addiction.
Compulsive gambling is a serious problem that results in life-altering consequences. Loss of savings, relationships, homes, and even livelihood are all associated with problem gambling.
When the only thing you have left to bet on is yourself, know that help is available.
Support services are available. You can overcome problem gambling.
Gambling addiction, clinically recognized as gambling disorder, is a compulsive behavioral condition in which an individual continues to gamble despite clear negative consequences. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, millions of Americans struggle with gambling behaviors that progressively escalate in severity.
At its core, gambling addiction activates the same reward pathways as substance use disorders. With each wager, the brain releases dopamine, creating a cycle of anticipation, loss, and intensified craving. Over time, this cycle becomes increasingly difficult to interrupt without structured clinical intervention.
To learn more about the warning signs and progression of this disorder, explore our guides on gambling addiction symptoms and types and the four stages of gambling addiction.
Gambling addiction does not arise from a single cause; instead, it develops from a complex interaction of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Research from the Mayo Clinic and the American Psychological Association shows that gambling disorder shares many neurobiological features with substance use disorders, including disruptions in reward pathways and impulse control systems.
Many individuals begin gambling recreationally but experience an escalation when gambling becomes a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, trauma, or emotional dysregulation. Over time, the brain adapts to frequent dopamine surges, requiring increasingly risky or frequent gambling behaviors to achieve the same level of stimulation.
Family history, emotional trauma, accessibility to gambling environments, and co-occurring mental health conditions all increase vulnerability. You can explore more about gambling addiction’s progression through our resources on the stages of gambling addiction and the most common types of addiction.
Gambling addiction often develops quietly, progressing long before loved ones realize something is wrong. Clinical research, including findings from the National Institute of Health, shows that compulsive gambling activates the brain’s reward pathways in ways similar to substance addiction. Over time, individuals lose the ability to moderate their behavior despite increasingly serious consequences.
Warning signs may include emotional withdrawal, financial instability, secrecy, and an increasing preoccupation with gambling activities. Many individuals describe a mounting sense of urgency or “high” before gambling and deep shame afterward. These symptoms often escalate across predictable stages, which you can explore in our guide to the four stages of gambling addiction.
Behavioral red flags frequently include lying about spending, chasing losses, using credit cards or loans to gamble, and neglecting work or family responsibilities. Emotional symptoms often mirror those found in other addictions—anxiety, irritability, depression, or using gambling as a form of escape to avoid distress.
If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or someone you love, early intervention is essential. Our clinical team can provide clarity and support to help prevent the progression to more severe consequences. You may also find it helpful to review our comprehensive overview of gambling addiction symptoms and treatment options.
For complete recovery, modalities should focus on the patient holistically. To ensure efficacy, centric therapies that are supported with scientific studies and data.
At The Heights Treatment, our addiction and behavioral health treatment center utilizes both group and individual therapy to empower patients with the coping skills they need to thrive outside of recovery.
Our therapies include:
Do you have more questions about problem gambling and treatment options? We’ve answered some of your most frequently asked questions below.
There is no one singular therapy that guarantees recovery from problem gambling. Some individuals find that they benefit the most from psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), while others find that EMDR, Mindfulness, Art Therapy, or Equine Therapy align more with their recovery goals.
Sometimes self-help isn’t enough. Professional treatment services give you the best chance at lifelong recovery from a gambling addiction.
There are several medications approved by the FDA in the treatment of Gambling Addiction and other process addictions. These medications include lithium (a mood stabilizer that is also used to treat bipolar disorder), naltrexone (an opioid agonist(, and other antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.
Do not attempt to treat your gambling addiction by obtaining medication without a prescription. Taking medication that is not prescribed to you can lead to fatal consequences.
Compulsive gambling can result in the loss of family relationships, romantic relationships, employment, as well as financial ruin. It is not unheard of for those who suffer from a gambling problem to lose their homes, life savings, and everything else they own while feeding their addiction.
Many major insurance companies cover inpatient or outpatient behavioral health care. Your admissions specialist will confirm your eligibility with your insurance provider.
On its own, gambling is not a mental disorder. It is when the gambling becomes compulsive that this behavior becomes concerning. Some people are able to join friends for a poker game, visit a casino, or bet on a race without issue. Many others, however, cannot engage in these activities without becoming consumed by gambling.
Some signs and symptoms of gambling addiction are easier to identify than others. Because those who suffer from a gambling addiction often know they have a problem and experience feelings of guilt and shame, they may go to great lengths to hide it.
Some of the less obvious signs of a gambling addiction include taking time off work to go to casinos or race tracks, multiple gambling cell phone apps, calls or letters from bill collection agencies, secret credit cards or bank accounts opened, or choosing to spend money to buy scratch-offs and playing the lottery instead of necessities.
If you recognize these hidden signs of gambling addiction in yourself or in a loved one, intervention is key before everything is lost.
Gambling can cause chemical reactions in the brain. When gambling produces a win, the brain releases the feel-good chemical dopamine. As the brain and body adjust to this repeated behavior, increased instances of gambling are necessary to achieve the same feeling of pleasure.
A gambling problem can indirectly lead to fatal consequences. Those who partake in gambling in unsavory circles may find themselves in dangerous situations trying to satiate their cravings. There is also the potential for someone suffering from a gambling addiction to turn to substances to manage feelings of loss, shame, guilt, or anxiety. This can develop into a fatal addiction.
The purpose of gambling addiction treatment is to help the individual overcome the compulsions that lead to negative behaviors. Gambling addiction isn’t only about treating the symptoms such as visits to the casino or overspending on lottery tickets and compulsive sports betters–it’s about healing the underlying causes of the addiction.
Many people develop addictions as a response to trauma, depressions, feelings of guilt, or anxiety. It is important that individuals seeking addiction treatment undergo therapies that treat them holistically.
In addition to the potentially devastating financial side effects, termination of relationships, and loss of employment. Those with a gambling disorder are at risk for developing other disorders. It is not uncommon that someone with a gambling addiction either turns to substance abuse to alleviate feelings of shame and guilt. This self-medication can result in a substance use disorder.
Problem gambling can lead to personal and financial ruin. What once was a night out with friends to the casino can turn into a compulsion and overtake every part of your life. If you or a loved one is suffering from compulsive gambling, help from a gambling treatment center can help.
You CAN heal from a gambling addiction. Contact an admissions specialist today to learn more about our life-changing therapies and find out how we can help you reach new heights.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, you do not have to navigate the journey alone.
At The Heights Treatment in Houston, our clinical team provides evidence-based care for drug and alcohol addiction along with co-occurring mental health conditions. Our goal is to help you regain stability, rebuild confidence, and return to a life that feels meaningful and aligned with who you want to be.
A life free from addiction is possible. Hope, healing, and compassionate support are within reach. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about how our individualized treatment programs can support long-term recovery for you or a loved one.
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