Study Suggests Hormone ‘Rush' May Cause Gambling Addiction

A gambling casino may seem like a strange place to conduct research. But a recent Reuters article highlights a study by German researchers of ten gamblers, picked at random in a casino, which may help determine why people become addicted to this vice. Scholars from the Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research at the University of Bremen in Germany conducted the study. They found that gambling can be just as addictive as drinking or taking drugs, with similar physical responses.

The study involved all ten gamblers. They played one game of blackjack in a casino, where real money was at stake, and a second game where no money was involved. The researchers found that gambling for money caused the participants' heart rate to increase significantly and certain hormones to be released that contribute to an overall state of arousal and possible addiction.

According to the investigators, the hormone release is similar to that caused by a stress event, such as parachute jumping. The heightened excitement and elevated mood often continue for several hours. This strong physical response may act as a reinforcement, luring players back for one more "rush," they said.