Why some problem gamblers can’t cut their losses

Understanding why chronic gamblers chase wins could help develop strategies to better control their behaviour.

Gambling is a significant social issue in Malaysia.

Studies indicate that around 4.4 percent of the Malaysian population engages in high-severity problem gambling, with an additional 10.2 percent engaging in moderate-severity gambling.

This is notably higher than in many other Asian countries, capturing the attention of policymakers and mental health professionals. It points to a growing concern around understanding what drives this behaviour, and why some people are more affected than others.

“Problem gambling” means gambling to an extent that significantly disrupts and damages family, personal, emotional or financial wellbeing.

As more people grapple with the consequences of gambling, there is more focus on understanding the psychological factors that might explain why certain people are more susceptible to gambling problems than others.

In Malaysia, where there are unique cultural and societal dynamics at play, gambling behaviours are on the rise. But psychological research on the topic remains limited.

Impulsive behaviour

One of the main factors contributing to problem gambling is impulsivity, the tendency to act on a whim without considering the consequences. It manifests as the inability to delay gratification, leading to hasty decisions that often result in poor outcomes.

Impulsive gamblers are more likely to continue on despite experiencing losses, constantly chasing an elusive win to recover their losses.

Research has shown that adolescents with high impulsivity are three times more at risk of developing problem gambling compared to their low impulsivity peers during emerging adulthood.

This highlights the critical period of adolescence as a time when impulsivity can significantly influence future behaviours and outcomes. During this developmental stage, adolescents are still forming their cognitive and emotional regulation skills, making them more susceptible to risky behaviours like gambling.

Impulsivity isn’t unique to gambling; it is also prevalent in other addictive behaviours, such as problem online gaming, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.

Understanding and managing impulsivity from a young age can reduce the likelihood of developing problem gambling and decrease the propensity for other addictive behaviours.

Gambling-related cognitive distortions also play a significant role in fostering problem gambling. Cognitive distortions manifest as inaccurate thoughts or beliefs that lead individuals to overestimate their control over gambling outcomes.

The illusion of control

For example, gamblers might believe they are “due” for a win after a series of losses. Or that they possess special skill sets that can aid them in influencing the outcome of a fundamentally chance-based activity.

Such cognitive distortions are pervasive among gamblers in Malaysia, many of whom come from a Chinese cultural background with deeply rooted beliefs in fate and luck.

These beliefs can lead gamblers to engage in rituals or superstitions, further reinforcing the illusion of control and perpetuating the gambling cycle.

Cognitive reappraisal is an emotion control skill that involves changing the way one thinks about a situation to alter its emotional impact. While this can be beneficial in many areas of life, its role in gambling is complex.

Some research suggests that cognitive reappraisal can be beneficial in reducing problem gambling as it enables people to manage their gambling-related thoughts and emotions more effectively, be it by reinterpreting gambling-related urges as temporary and manageable rather than overwhelming and irresistible.

Or, it can help people reframe negative emotions, such as stress or anxiety, that may trigger gambling behaviour, allowing them to view a stressful situation as a challenge to overcome rather than a threat, reducing the urge to gamble as a coping mechanism.

However, it is also a double-edged sword.

The downsides

For gamblers with high impulsivity or high cognitive distortions, cognitive reappraisal can exacerbate gambling problems instead.

Among these gamblers, cognitive reappraisal might serve as a tool to rationalise continued gambling behaviour. They might use cognitive reappraisal to convince themselves that losses are not significant, or that they are part of a strategy that will eventually lead to winning.

This can perpetuate the cycle of gambling by creating a false sense of optimism. Reappraisal could also be used to cope with the guilt associated with gambling losses. This temporary lessening of emotional discomfort allows individuals to continue gambling.

Among problem gamblers with high impulsivity or high cognitive distortions, reappraisal can be used to avoid acknowledging the seriousness of their gambling problem, delaying the process of seeking help or making changes, exacerbating the issue.

These findings suggest that effective strategies to tackle problem gambling should focus on the way people manage their emotions, particularly through the cognitive reappraisal process.

For impulsive gamblers and those who deceive themselves about their gambling habits, it is important to address their impulsivity and their distorted beliefs regarding gambling in conjunction with how and when they are applying their reappraisal skills.

Often, cognitive reappraisal is a process that happens automatically — people use it without even realising. For problem gamblers, these automatic emotional strategies can sometimes make things worse by justifying their gambling losses and encouraging more gambling behaviour.

Gambling interventions are at their most effective when they focus not only on helping problem gamblers develop more constructive ways of managing emotions, but also on guiding them to exercise emotional regulation skills in the right context.

Gillian Shu Lin Tan is a PhD student at Monash University Malaysia.

Dr Tam Cai Lian is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.