Research increasingly highlights a strong relationship between trauma and the onset of gambling problems. Individuals with a history of trauma, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) [1], are at a heightened risk of developing compulsive gambling behaviors. For many, gambling serves as a coping mechanism that momentarily distracts from the emotional pain associated with trauma. However, the short-lived relief is often followed by feelings of regret, guilt, and financial stress, which intensify mental health challenges. Understanding how trauma affects gambling behaviors offers crucial insights into trauma-informed care strategies that can help in the treatment and prevention of gambling addiction.

Trauma and Gambling Addiction: An Overview

Trauma can disrupt an individual’s ability to manage emotions effectively, leading to emotional dysregulation. This state is characterized by heightened emotional sensitivity, a tendency to experience intense emotions, and difficulty returning to a calm state after stress. Individuals with trauma histories may use gambling as a way to manage or escape from their heightened emotions, especially since gambling can trigger dopamine release, which provides temporary relief [2].

A 2021 study revealed that people who experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse or neglect, are more likely to develop gambling addiction later in life [1]. These early experiences leave long-lasting imprints, increasing vulnerability to maladaptive coping strategies, including gambling. Furthermore, trauma-related symptoms like dissociation—the feeling of detachment from oneself or one’s surroundings—can make individuals particularly susceptible to gambling as they seek ways to cope with their distress. Especially with the modern human reliance on technology and the rise of artificial intelligence in online gambling the concerns on how it can encourage problem gambling are increasing in society.

PTSD and Gambling Behavior

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, is frequently linked to gambling addiction [3]. Individuals with PTSD may gamble to suppress intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or other distressing symptoms associated with trauma. A study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies found that people with PTSD, among those with low socio-economic status, have a higher prevalence of gambling problems compared to the general population [4]. This may stem from an attempt to control or numb the painful emotional arousal caused by PTSD symptoms through gambling’s dopamine-driven “escape”.

Common symptoms of PTSD that influence gambling behavior:

• Hyperarousal: Heightened sensitivity to stress makes gambling’s adrenaline rush more appealing.
• Emotional numbing: Gambling may be used as a distraction from numbness or detachment.
• Avoidance: Patients with PTSD might gamble to avoid confronting traumatic memories.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gambling

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include a range of negative experiences, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, during formative years. Research shows that exposure to multiple ACEs significantly increases the likelihood of developing addiction disorders, including gambling [5]. ACEs are linked to alterations in brain development, impacting emotional regulation, impulse control, and stress response, all of which contribute to addiction vulnerability.

Individuals exposed to childhood trauma often struggle with emotional stability in adulthood, which may lead them to gamble as a way to self-soothe. Emotional dysregulation stemming from ACEs can result in frequent emotional swings, amplifying the appeal of high-risk behaviors like gambling.

Dissociation and Gambling

Dissociation is a psychological response to trauma that leads to a sense of disconnection from thoughts, feelings, or even physical sensations [6]. For individuals with gambling problems, dissociation can contribute to periods of binge gambling, as the activity allows them to enter a trance-like state, blocking out distressing memories or feelings.

Studies have shown that individuals with a history of trauma often experience higher levels of dissociation, making gambling an attractive option for its ability to numb emotional pain. However, this dissociation can exacerbate gambling problems by leading to a loss of awareness regarding time, money spent, and the consequences of their actions. Such dissociative episodes can result in excessive gambling binges, heightening the likelihood of financial and emotional crises, which further reinforce the cycle of addiction [7].

Trauma-Informed Care in Treating Gambling Addiction

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a treatment approach that recognizes the pervasive impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into therapeutic strategies [8]. For individuals with trauma-related gambling issues, TIC can help address the underlying psychological factors contributing to addiction. This approach emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, empowerment, and collaboration, creating a supportive environment for individuals to explore their trauma and its effects on their behavior.

Key aspects of trauma-informed care for gambling addiction:

1. Building trust and safety: TIC helps individuals feel safe, which is essential for addressing deeply embedded trauma-related issues without fear of judgment.
2. Empowering clients: TIC encourages individuals to make informed decisions about their treatment, fostering a sense of control.
3. Emotional regulation skills: Teaching emotional regulation skills through therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helps clients manage intense emotions without resorting to gambling.
4. Addressing trauma symptoms directly: TIC often incorporates treatments like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which help reduce trauma-related distress that may lead to gambling behavior.

Strategies to Address Emotional Dysregulation in Problem Gamblers

Since trauma often impairs emotional regulation, therapeutic interventions focus on teaching clients to manage intense emotions healthily [9]. Developing emotional regulation skills can help reduce the appeal of gambling as a coping mechanism.

Effective therapeutic strategies:

• Mindfulness and grounding techniques: These methods help individuals become more aware of their emotions and body, preventing dissociative episodes and impulsive gambling behaviors.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT aids in identifying and reframing the irrational beliefs that underlie gambling urges, allowing individuals to address their trauma in healthier ways.
• DBT skills: DBT, particularly the distress tolerance module, helps clients handle emotional pain without seeking relief through gambling.

Conclusion

Trauma plays a critical role in the development of gambling problems, as individuals seek relief from distressing emotions and memories associated with traumatic experiences. Understanding the connections between trauma, emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and gambling behaviors is essential in providing effective, trauma-informed care. By addressing the root causes and teaching healthier coping mechanisms, mental health professionals can offer problem gamblers a pathway to recovery that acknowledges and respects their trauma history. This approach not only enhances treatment outcomes but also supports the long-term mental well-being of individuals affected by both trauma and gambling addiction.

References

1. Journal of Gambling Studies on the Comorbidity of Problem Gambling and ACEs [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9411081/]
2. Addictive Behaviors on Escapism from Traumatic Experience Through Gambling [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460320308431]
3. Substance Use: Research and Treatment on PTSD and Gambling Problems [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6591666/]
4. Journal of Gambling Studies on PTSD Role in Gambling Behaviour [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-022-10117-7]
5. Addictive Behaviors on ACEs and Risk of Gambling [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460318300443?via%3Dihub]
6. Delaware Journal of Public Health on the Relationship Between Trauma and Dissociation [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9162402/]
7. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy on the Impact of Dissociation on the Gambling Severity [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26686490/]
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US) on the Trauma-Informed Care [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207195/]
9. BMC Psychiatry on Emotion Regulation Strategies Efficacy in Gambling Addicts [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8734318/]