Gambling addiction is a complex condition and may not have a single cause. Factors that contribute to gambling addiction include:

• Genetic,
• Personal characteristics and mental health,
• Changes in brain chemistry.

Gambling addiction can run in families. Research on identical twins suggests that even if environmental factors differ, the risk of developing gambling addiction is high because this type of addiction is present in the genes. Another factor, which relates to personality traits, is that individuals with gambling addiction exhibit extreme characteristics and behaviors.

These behaviors include impulsivity, thrill-seeking, difficulty making decisions, emotional instability, and a feeling of compulsion. People with gambling addiction may also have substance and alcohol use disorders, impulse control disorders, depression, anxiety, and other personality disorders. These conditions can develop before or after gambling addiction.

Gambling triggers the brain's reward center, which can biologically transform a person into a constant reward seeker. Under normal circumstances, dopamine (the motivational hormone) can be released in the body even when a person spends a good time with a loved one or eats a meal. These are just two of the many ways they can feel happy. Gambling can also cause significant dopamine release.

However, instead of motivating you to do good, this dopamine release affects your emotions and behavior. When dopamine levels drop, you may resort to gambling again. Over time, all these hormone fluctuations can alter brain chemistry, causing you to feel unhappy even when dopamine levels are high. In this situation, people may gamble more to feel happy.