Gambling often has dire consequences for individuals and their families.Many people become addicted to gambling in very much the same way as drugs or alcohol. Indeed, gambling and heavy drinking or drug use often go hand in hand.

The difference between gambling and alcoholism is that with alcoholism the chemical comes from outside of the body and is introduced to the system, whereas with gambling addiction, the chemical is produced internally by the reward system in the brain and is linked very much to anticipation of reward rather than actual reward itself. Not all problem gamblers are addicted, though they may very well need help to stop or moderate their gambling.