Find a Therapist for Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction—also known as gambling disorder or compulsive gambling—is a behavioral addiction. It’s marked by a loss of control, despite increasing negative consequences. If you find yourself:

• Hiding how much or how often you gamble
• Chasing losses by gambling more
• Feeling anxious, restless, or irritable when you try to stop
• Gambling to cope with stress, boredom, or loneliness
• Borrowing money, selling items, or taking financial risks to keep gambling
• Struggling in relationships or at work because of gambling

You may benefit from talking to a gambling addiction therapist. The earlier you seek support, the easier it is to stop the cycle.

Recognizing the symptoms

Gambling addiction can be hard to recognize—especially in yourself. It doesn’t always look dramatic or destructive at first. Over time, though, it becomes harder to hide and harder to stop.

Common signs include:

• Preoccupation with gambling or constantly thinking about your next opportunity
• Needing to bet more money to get the same excitement (tolerance)
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit
• Lying to friends or family about your gambling
• Gambling when you’re feeling down, anxious, or stressed
• Neglecting responsibilities to gamble
• “Chasing losses”—going back to try to win back money you’ve lost

If any of this feels familiar, a licensed gambling counselor can help you understand what’s going on and what recovery could look like.

What do the diagnostic criteria mean?

The American Psychiatric Association defines gambling disorder as a persistent and recurring gambling behavior that leads to significant distress or problems in life. To receive a diagnosis, a person must meet at least four out of nine criteria over a 12-month period, including:

• Tolerance
• Withdrawal
• Loss of control
• Lying about gambling
• Jeopardizing relationships, career, or finances

Diagnosis isn’t about judgment. It’s a tool to identify what kind of gambling addiction support is needed. A licensed gambling addiction psychologist can help assess your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan.

Getting diagnosed

Diagnosis begins with an open conversation. Your provider may ask about:

• How often you gamble
• Why you gamble
• Whether you’ve tried to stop
• How gambling affects your finances, relationships, and mood

They may use screening tools like the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) or DSM-5 criteria to better understand your experience. If you’re not ready to stop yet, that’s okay—a good therapist will meet you where you are.

Gambling addiction isn’t caused by greed or poor willpower—it’s a complex condition influenced by many factors:

• Brain chemistry: Gambling triggers the brain’s reward system, similar to drugs or alcohol
• Genetics: If you have a family history of addiction, you may be more vulnerable
• Mental health: Anxiety, depression, or trauma can make gambling feel like a coping mechanism
• Environment: Easy access to gambling (especially online) increases risk
• Early exposure: Starting young, especially with parental modeling, can play a role

Gambling addiction can happen to anyone. Fortunately, with professional help and support, it’s treatable.

Gambling addiction is highly treatable, and many people make lasting changes with the right combination of therapy, education, and support. Treatment doesn’t just focus on stopping the behavior—it helps you understand why gambling became a problem and gives you tools to take back control of your life.

One of the most effective approaches is therapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps you recognize the thoughts, feelings, and situations that lead to gambling, and teaches you how to change your response. For example, many people with gambling addiction believe things like “I’m due for a win” or “I can earn it back if I keep playing.” CBT works to challenge and reframe those beliefs. A therapist for gambling addiction can also help you identify triggers, manage urges, and build healthier coping skills.

Psychoeducation is a key part of treatment. This means learning about how addiction works in the brain, why gambling becomes compulsive, and how it interacts with emotions like stress, boredom, or loneliness. Understanding the science behind your behavior can reduce shame and help you feel more empowered. A gambling addiction therapist can walk you through how the reward system in your brain gets hijacked by gambling and what steps you can take to break the cycle.

Support networks are another critical piece. Many people benefit from group therapy, 12-step programs like Gamblers Anonymous, or family therapy that helps loved ones heal and support recovery. You may also work with a gambling counselor to set financial boundaries or create accountability systems that help keep you on track.

In some cases, medication may be part of the plan—especially if you’re also dealing with depression, anxiety, or impulse control issues. There’s no single “gambling pill,” but certain medications can reduce urges or treat co-occurring conditions that make gambling worse.

Environmental changes matter too. This can mean limiting access to gambling websites or apps, giving someone else control of your finances temporarily, or building a structured routine that leaves less time and space for gambling.

Every recovery plan looks a little different. A licensed gambling addiction psychologist or counselor will work with you to develop a treatment approach tailored to your needs, values, and goals.

You don’t have to go through this alone. With the right knowledge and support, change is not only possible—it’s sustainable.

Treatment may come from:

• Therapists or counselors specializing in addiction or behavioral health
• Psychologists for gambling addiction trained in CBT and impulse control
• Social workers or mental health counselors with experience in recovery
• Psychiatrists who can address co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety

Whether in person or via online therapy for gambling addiction, it’s important to work with someone who understands the emotional and financial layers of this disorder.