Did you know that brain injury appears to be a risk factor for developing a gambling problem?

One study found persons with TBI were 2.8 time more likely to have a gambling problem than those without a TBI. These findings remained constant even after controlling for psychological distress and drinking behavior.

The link between brain injury and gambling addiction could be due to multiple factors:

  • Dis-inhibition
  • Impulsivity
  • Obsessive behavior
  • Memory loss
  • Impaired reasoning
  • Difficulty keeping track of the amount of money spent
  • Difficulty making a reasonable decisions about whether or not to keep playing
  • Difficulty understanding the damage it is causing their lives
  • Social effects of a brain injury can impact problem gambling behavior:
    • Relationships can become strained because friends and family don’t understand the difficulties and needs experienced by brain injury survivors
    • Brain injury survivors feel misunderstood, and experience feelings of frustration, loneliness, and isolation

If you are concerned about a gambling problem, 211 is Maine’s Problem Gambling Helpline. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.

Resources Consulted:

Disabilities and problem gambling

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/Problem-Gambling/Documents/Disabilities.pdf

 

Traumatic brain injury as an independent risk factor for problem gambling: a matched case-control study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30232507/

 

Traumatic brain injuries and problem gambling in youth: Evidence from a population-based study of secondary students in Ontario, Canada:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33007032/

 

Moderate to severe gambling problems and traumatic brain injury: A population-based study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30832188/

 

Risk of problem gambling increases after traumatic brain injury

https://www.ices.on.ca/Newsroom/News-Releases/2018/Risk-of-problem-gambling-increases-after-traumatic-brain-injury

 

History of brain injury may increase later risk of problem gambling

https://www.ices.on.ca/Publications/~/media/A296DB59841C436C94BB054047BB20AD.ashx

 

Dangers of gambling after a brain injury

https://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights/posts/dangers-of-gambling-after-a-brain-injury/

 

Responding to Acquired Brain Injury in Problem Gambling Treatment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgAJl0xeOUs