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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffIt's not known exactly what drives people to engage in compulsive gambling, but like many problems, it may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies show that problems with certain naturally occurring chemicals in the brain may play a role, especially the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and dopamine. Some of these problems may be genetically determined.
Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers that enable nerve cells (neurons) to communicate. Neurotransmitters are released into the gaps (synapses) between nerve cells in the brain to help messages flow from one cell to another. If neurons don't produce enough of these chemicals, messages aren't communicated effectively. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that plays a key role in regulating mood and behavior.
Role of the reward system
Norepinephrine, a hormone released in response to stress, has been linked to arousal and risk-taking in compulsive gamblers. Brain cells release dopamine as part of the reward system through which you learn to seek things that make you feel pleasure, such as food and sex. Dopamine plays a role in developing addiction. Together, these may set the stage for compulsive gambling.
Role of altered brain function
In some cases, certain medications or traumatic head injuries that alter brain function can contribute to compulsive gambling. This is especially true of injuries to the orbitofrontal cortex, a poorly understood part of the brain involved in decision making and in processing reward and punishment, including monetary gain and loss. Neuroimaging studies of the orbitofrontal cortex of compulsive gamblers support the idea that the disorder has a biological basis.
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