With the explosion of legalized sports betting in recent years, the gambling industry is facing a dual reality: record-breaking revenues and an intensifying regulatory spotlight on consumer protection. As public health and economic concerns mount, the companies that survive the inevitable regulatory tightening will need to invest in the technology of restraint. For SN, Judith Lavelle explores the origins of legitimizing compulsive betting as a medical problem.
🧠 The neuroscience of the near miss
Pioneering psychiatrist Robert Custer collected clinical data to argue that gambling addiction isn’t a failure of will. Modern neuroscientists are showing how it hijacks the brain’s reward system. The act of gambling releases dopamine, creating feelings of euphoria and excitement. Research shows that near-misses — where a slot machine or parlay almost hits — trigger the same dopamine spike as a win, effectively training the brain to keep playing despite losses. Modern software can now track this kind of addictive behavior in real time, identifying patterns like chasing losses or erratic betting spikes before they spiral into a crisis.
💰Where’s the money?
Gambling addiction leads to widespread economic problems and exacerbates poverty. Lower income gamblers are more likely to develop gambling problems, and these problems create a cycle of debt, instability and increased social inequality.
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