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| Frequently Asked Questions | 1. Is pathologic gambling analogous to chemical dependency?
Actually, this question has two answers: yes and no. Resemblance between pathologic gambling and chemical dependency comprise an inability to stop or control the addiction, denial, severe depression, and mood swings. It is proved that pathologic gambling and chemical dependency are both progressive diseases with similar phases.
2. How are children affected by pathological gambling?
Gambling may affect children in several ways. They may be physically and emotionally abandoned by their parents, who are unable to give their children needed attention and nurturing owing to the time spent gambling. “Casino kids” have been left by themselves at the outer rim of casinos at the same time as their parents gamble, according to some casino security officers. Sometimes children are left in the family car in the casino parking lot for hours at a time while their parents gamble inside. Sometimes children may also spend several hours each week with babysitters at the time when their parents gamble in casinos, bingo halls or card rooms. All of these may lead a child to feel physically and emotionally abandoned.
3. Are gamblers addicted to money?
In fact, pathological gamblers are addicted to action, not money. Many pathological gamblers will gamble to lose in the desperation phase of their addiction, as it is the action they seek, not the money. For a gambler, being in action is like to being high on cocaine for the person addicted to cocaine.
4. Is there one type of gambling that is more addictive than others?
Video poker and slot machines have been distinguished to as the “crack cocaine of gambling.” Because of their immediate and effective reinforcement schedules, problem gamblers who regularly play these machines turn out to progress into pathological gambling much faster than problem gamblers who only gamble at horse races, or other games that do not have such an immediate rate of gratification.
5. Is there a biological basis for pathological gambling?
Recent study indicated pathological gambling is an addiction similar to chemical addiction.
A study conducted by Alec Roy, M.D., a psychiatrist formerly at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, showed that some pathological gamblers have lower levels of norepinephrine than normal gamblers. This brain chemical is secreted under stress, arousal, thrill and excitement, so pathological gamblers may engage in activities like gambling to enlarge their levels of norepinephrine.
This proof supports the claim made by Dr. Henry Lesieur, among others that some pathological gamblers are “action seekers” who gamble, not for money, but for the enthusiasm associated with being in action.
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