Psychology

As gambling addiction spreads, one scientist’s work reveals timely insights

Psychiatrist Robert Custer convinced doctors that compulsive gambling was a medical issue, not a moral failing

Illustration of gambling addiction researcher Robert Custer posing against a red background. He wears a sport coat that is superimposed with playing cards, which are blowing off his jacket and out of the frame. One of the cards is an ace of hearts which has been cut in half.

Despite his influence on gambling disorder research, Robert Custer is not as well-known today as some drug and alcohol addiction researchers.

Tavo Montañez

By Judith Lavelle

Arriving at a 1987 Gamblers Anonymous event in Dallas, Chris Anderson was at a low point. After years of losing money on high-risk stock option trades, his mental health had deteriorated and he had filed for bankruptcy.