Seven Signs of Online Gambling Addiction and Its Effects on the Brain According to Psychiatric Experts
Online gambling is no longer merely a social issue but a genuine mental health threat. Many individuals become trapped in a vicious cycle without realising their brains have undergone biological functional changes.
Based on international medical classification, gambling addiction has been categorised as a behavioural disorder requiring serious treatment.
Dr Kristiana Siste, a psychiatrist specialising in addiction disorders at the National Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), explained that the primary sign of addiction is loss of control. Referencing the World Health Organisation’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11), the characteristics include the inability to resist gambling urges and continuing despite harmful consequences.
One of the primary reasons individuals struggle to break free from online gambling is the manipulation of the brain’s reward system. Games such as slot machines are designed with colourful visuals and victory sounds that trigger a surge of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain.
The dopamine surge experienced when gambling wins is significantly higher and more intense than healthy activities such as exercising or eating well. This creates a powerful memory in the brain that gambling is the primary source of happiness, triggering addictive behaviour similar to substance abuse.
Addicts often fall victim to the “Illusion of Control”, where they believe they possess skill to win games when outcomes are purely determined by chance or machine algorithms.
Terms such as “jam gacor” (winning slots) become psychological traps that keep players glued to screens for extended periods.
If not addressed promptly, online gambling addiction can lead individuals to commit criminal acts.
“Without realising their money is gone, they will desperately search for money to gamble, including stealing or taking others’ property,” Dr Kristiana stated firmly.
Online gambling addiction is a genuine medical disorder with high risk of destroying a person’s entire life structure.
If you or someone close to you displays the signs mentioned above, immediately consult with a professional such as a psychologist or addiction psychiatrist to receive proper treatment before the consequences become more severe.