The addiction to gambling has become a growing concern in Brazil, affecting people of all ages and social classes. Easy access to online casinos, sports betting and gambling in general has contributed to an alarming increase in the number of individuals developing addiction problems.
This compulsive and uncontrolled behavior can lead to devastating consequences, both for the mental and emotional health of those involved, as well as for their personal finances.
The relentless pursuit of the next winning bet can lead to bankruptcy, ruining not only the player’s financial life, but also their interpersonal relationships and overall quality of life.
Covid-19 pandemic has increased the number of online gamers
The cases of gaming addiction in Brazil have been a concern for health professionals. It is estimated that 1% of Brazilian citizens have compulsive gambling disorder, while 1.3% have some partial syndrome. In other words: 2.3% of the population lives with some addiction related to gambling, such as online gambling.
Playing games is usually a habit that comes from childhood, but when it stops being a hobby and becomes a necessity, the feeling becomes worrying.
Game users who are already addicted tend to isolate themselves from other people, spending more hours playing than doing other activities, such as working, studying and even eating.
Similar to chemical dependency, gambling addiction affects the human brain by providing a sense of pleasure and reward when the user achieves something. The consequence of this is that many players spend a lot of money on online gambling.
See what researcher and professor at the D’Or Institute of Research and Education, Leonardo Fontenelle, says:
“Under these conditions, the brain system rich in dopamine is involved, a substance directly linked to obtaining pleasure.”
“When people who are addicted to gambling observe the outcome of their bet, they tend to show less activation of the brain’s reward system, which leads them to repeat the bets again and again,” adds Fontenelle.
With the lockdown due to Covid-19 health restrictions, many people started looking for online games as a form of entertainment. The result was an increase in the number of individuals addicted to this type of content.
The demand for mental health professionals and support groups has also increased in recent years, reflecting the increase in online gamers. In support groups, addicts can find other people who are in the same situation, share their experiences and receive training to deal with addiction.
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