A clinical psychologist has warned that the opening of casinos could see cash-strapped people turning to gambling for a quick solution to their money woes.
“Gambling as an addiction works like any other addiction, such as alcohol-use disorder. Thus, in the same way as individuals went to great lengths to access alcohol and cigarettes during lockdown, risky gambling is no different. With the added financial strain of Covid-19, illegal gambling may also be increased.
In the same way as individuals went to great lengths to access alcohol and cigarettes during lockdown, risky gambling is no different.Pathological gamblers, she said, developed a cycle of winning, losing and desperation. This compulsive behaviour as they try unsuccessfully to win back their losses often destroys family relationships, causes job losses and leads to criminal activity to feed their habit.
“While substances [psychoactive drugs] directly alter the dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain, activities such as gambling, shopping and watching porn cause a chain reaction in the pleasure centre that leads to the release of dopamine. This contributes to obsessive thinking about the object or behaviour of the addiction and the feeling that one doesn’t have control.
Although compulsive gambling can be treated, Mthembu said the process is challenging and is best handled through long-term therapy, rather than a short-term approach which has a poor success rate.
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