The Hidden Dangers of Gambling Addiction with Eric Webber MA, CADCThe Hidden Dangers of Gambling Addiction with Eric Webber MA, CADC
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
Gambling is not considered a mental illness, but gambling disorders are diagnosable and are classed as an impulse control disorder, and often associated with mental health disorders such as substance abuse problems, personality disorders, depression...
26:36•27 Mar 2024
The Next Epidemic? Gambling Addiction and Its Hidden Costs
Episode Overview
- Gambling disorders are classified as impulse control problems and can mirror substance addictions in the brain.
- Online and sports betting have surged, boosted by massive advertising spends and easy access via phones and credit cards.
- Key warning signs include obsession, inability to stop, financial secrecy, ignoring responsibilities and strong cravings to gamble.
- Gambling can lead to serious mental health issues, financial collapse and long-term damage to personal and family credit.
- Real help exists through certified gambling counsellors, hotlines and peer support from groups such as Gamblers Anonymous.
“When people say, "Look, I don’t get it. Can’t you just stop?" that’s like asking an alcoholic, "Can’t you just stop?" No.”
What drives someone to seek a life without gambling when everyone around them says it’s just a bit of fun? This conversation between host Ellen Stewart and gambling specialist Eric Weber MA, CADC, LPC, gets straight to the uncomfortable truth behind betting culture and problem gambling. You’ll hear Eric explain why gambling disorders are classified as impulse control disorders and how they often sit alongside substance use, depression and anxiety.
He breaks down the science in plain language, describing brain scans where the "pleasure centre" lights up during gambling in the same way it does with cocaine or alcohol, while the brain’s control systems fade into the background. As he puts it, asking a compulsive gambler to "just stop" is like asking an alcoholic to do the same.
The episode spends time on the rapid rise of sports betting and online casinos, backed by billions in advertising and made frictionless by smartphones and credit cards. Eric talks about young adults who treat online blackjack like a video game, first responders using gambling to decompress between shifts, and retirees spending pensions and social security at casinos or home poker games.
Warning signs come through clearly: obsessing about gambling, chasing losses, lying about money, ignoring family and work, and feeling intense cravings or withdrawal when trying to stay away from betting. Eric also highlights the deep financial and emotional fallout, from wrecked credit scores to heightened risk of depression and suicide. There is hope threaded throughout the discussion, with mention of specialist counsellors, helplines, and Gamblers Anonymous as ways to get practical support and peer connection.
If gambling is starting to feel less like entertainment and more like a compulsion, could this be the nudge to talk to someone about it?
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