Dopamine’s Double Edge: Unpacking Gambling and Gaming’s Impact on the Brain
- Dr. Daniel Kaufmann
- Mar 13, 2025
- 2 min read
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Gaming Services & Program Development
As Director of Gaming Services & Program Development at Kindbridge Behavioral Health, I’ve spent years studying how dopamine — the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter — drives
behaviors in both gambling and video gaming. Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) is
the perfect time to explore this connection, because whether it’s a slot machine’s flashing lights
or a video game’s elusive achievement, the neurological hooks are strikingly similar.
Understanding this overlap is critical to addressing the rising tide of behavioral addictions.
Dopamine surges when we anticipate rewards, not just when we receive them. In gambling, this
manifests as the thrill of a near-miss — when two cherries align, but the third just misses —
tricking the brain into believing a win is imminent. Video games, with their loot boxes, leveling
systems, and randomized rewards, exploit the same mechanism. My research and clinical work
reveal that these activities stimulate the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, reinforcing behavior
and, for some, leading to compulsive patterns. Studies estimate that up to 5% of gamers exhibit
addiction-like symptoms (Kim et al., 2022), a figure that parallels problem gambling rates.
What’s fascinating — and concerning — is how these dopamine-driven loops can desensitize
the brain over time. Individuals may chase bigger bets or rarer in-game rewards to recapture
that initial rush, a phenomenon known as tolerance. This escalation mirrors substance addiction
and explains why gambling disorder and gaming disorder (recognized by the WHO in 2018)
share so many traits: withdrawal, loss of control, and neglect of other responsibilities.
At Kindbridge, we’re tackling this head-on. Our programs blend my expertise in gaming with
gambling-specific interventions, offering tailored support for those caught in these dopamine
traps. Cognitive restructuring helps patients break the reward-seeking cycle, while
psychoeducation empowers them to recognize triggers — be it a casino ad or a game update.
During PGAM, I challenge gamers and gamblers alike to reflect: Are you in control, or is
dopamine calling the shots? If it’s the latter, Kindbridge is here with cutting-edge strategies to
help you reclaim your brain — and your life.
Kim, H. S., Son, G., Roh, E. B., Ahn, W. Y., Kim, J., Shin, S. H., ... & Choi, K. H. (2022).
Prevalence of gaming disorder: A meta-analysis. Addictive behaviors, 126, 107183.
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