Signs of Gambling Addiction & What Michigan Residents Need to Know 

Gambling has changed, fast. In Michigan and across the country, betting no longer requires a trip to a casino or a race track. It can happen anytime, anywhere, from a phone. For many people, gambling stays what it was meant to be: entertainment. But for others, easy access and constant online availability can quietly tip into something heavier: gambling disorder, sometimes called gambling addiction.¹

If you’re wondering whether gambling might be becoming a problem for you, or for someone you love, know there are many in Michigan dealing with the same real, treatable behavioral addiction, and support can make a meaningful difference.

Why this conversation matters in Michigan right now

Michigan’s regulated online gaming and sports betting went live on January 22, 2021, which significantly increased 24/7 access across the state.

When something is available 24/7, heavily promoted, and always within reach, it can show up in the moments people feel most vulnerable—late at night, after conflict, after a triggering day at work, or when anxiety spikes. In those moments, gambling can start to function like emotional relief: a quick distraction, a temporary rush, a way to numb or escape.

From a clinical perspective, this matters because coping tools can turn into coping traps. What begins as “something to take the edge off” can gradually become a pattern that feels harder to control—especially when someone is already running low on support, stability, or healthy ways to regulate emotions.²

This isn’t shared to judge gambling. It’s shared to reflect how normalized and accessible online gambling has become, and why some people may need support navigating it. That’s also why Michigan has increased public awareness around problem gambling resources like 1-800-GAMBLER—not because most people are in crisis, but because enough people are, and help should be easy to find the moment someone realizes they need it.

What is gambling addiction?

Gambling addiction (clinically, “gambling disorder”) is not about how much money someone wins or loses on a single day. It’s about loss of control and continuing to gamble even when it causes harm—financially, emotionally, socially, or professionally.

Clinically, gambling disorder is considered a behavioral addiction because it can activate the brain’s reward and craving systems in ways that resemble substance addictions. Research has linked gambling to the same reward circuitry that responds to natural rewards like sex and to drugs like cocaine, which helps explain why urges can feel so intense, and why stopping can be so hard even when someone truly wants to.³

A common pattern looks like this:
stress or strong emotion → gambling as escape or excitement
→ temporary relief or “rush”
→ losses, shame, conflict, or debt
→ more stress → more gambling to “fix it” (often called chasing losses)

That cycle can create real consequences quickly—sometimes before anyone else even realizes there’s a problem. And the broader impact is real: nationally, problem gambling is associated with significant social costs (healthcare strain, job loss, legal and financial consequences), which is one reason it’s increasingly treated as a public health issue.⁴

Who is most affected right now?

While anyone can develop a gambling problem, recent consumer and industry reporting shows much of the growth in online betting activity is being driven by Gen Z and Millennials (roughly ages 18–43)—especially in digital-first formats like mobile sportsbooks and online casinos. ⁵Clinically, we also see risk rise when people have more unstructured time (late nights, isolation, time off work, or long stretches on a phone) and are using gambling to shift mood or escape stress.

How gaming can blur the lines

For teens and young adults especially, the pathway into gambling can feel subtle because some gaming features mimic gambling mechanics, especially systems based on randomized rewards (like loot boxes). Multiple studies have found links between loot box engagement and increased gambling-related risk, suggesting these “chance + reward” loops can normalize the chase for the next win.⁶

Signs of gambling addiction

Gambling problems can be hard to spot. There’s no smell on someone’s breath. No obvious paraphernalia. Many people become skilled at hiding it, until consequences pile up.

Emotional and behavioral signs

• Thinking about gambling a lot (planning bets, replaying outcomes, checking odds)
• Feeling restless, irritable, or “off” when not gambling
• Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, or numbness
• Lying, minimizing, or becoming defensive when asked about gambling
• Mood swings—especially after wins or losses
• Pulling away from people, hobbies, or responsibilities

Financial signs

• Unexplained missing money or frequent transfers
• New debt (credit cards, payday loans, borrowing from friends/family)
• Selling items, taking cash advances, or repeated overdrafts
• Bills going unpaid despite “normal” income

Work, school, and relationship signs

• Missing work or school, decreased performance, or increased conflict
• Repeated promises to stop or cut back, but not being able to
• Gambling even after major consequences (relationship rupture, job risk, legal/financial fallout)
• Increased secrecy with phone use (especially late night), deleting apps, or hiding statements

A note for parents and caregivers

Online spaces can make gambling-adjacent content feel normal for teens and young adults (odds talk, betting influencers, “picks,” simulated gambling, etc.). Even when someone isn’t legally gambling, the culture around gambling can increase curiosity and risk. 

Call out: If you notice secretive money behavior, sudden debt, intense mood changes around games, or a pattern of late-night “locked-in” phone use, it’s worth addressing early and supportively. Contact our team for help

How gambling addiction is similar to other addictions

Even though gambling doesn’t involve a substance, it can look and feel similar to alcohol or drug addiction:

• Cravings/urges that feel hard to resist
• Tolerance, where bigger risks are needed for the same excitement
• Failed attempts to cut back
• Continuing despite harm (relationships, health, work, finances)
• Shame and secrecy, which keep people stuck
  

And like other addictions, gambling concerns often overlap with co-occurring disorders:

• anxiety and depression
• trauma histories
• substance use concerns
• ADHD/impulsivity (especially in younger people)

How gambling addiction can be different

Gambling disorder also has a few features that make it uniquely easy to miss, and sometimes fast to escalate:

It’s easier to conceal. Someone can gamble from a phone in bed, in the bathroom, at work, or while sitting next to family.

Money is both the trigger and the consequence. Losses can create urgency (“I have to win it back”), which fuels a painful loop.

The “near miss” effect is powerful. Almost winning can feel like proof that a win is “due,” even when it’s not.

Online access removes natural stopping points. With 24/7 availability, there isn’t always a closing time or a built-in pause.

What to do if you’re worried

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Early support can prevent deeper harm.

1) Name what you’re seeing—gently

Try:

• “I’m not here to judge. I’m worried because I see how stressed this is making you.”
• “I miss you. I feel like gambling is taking up more space in your life.”

2) Focus on impact, not morality

Instead of “Why can’t you just stop?” try:

• “What happens to your mood after you gamble?”
• “How is this affecting sleep, money, or relationships?”
  

3) Add safety around money and triggers (temporary guardrails)

These steps aren’t about punishment—they’re about reducing harm while someone gets support:

• Reduce access to credit or betting funds (temporarily)
• Add a trusted support person to help with budgeting oversight
• Turn off gambling-related notifications and marketing triggers
• Create “pause points” (no-phone zones/times, especially at night)

4) Get support early

You do not have to “hit rock bottom” for treatment to help. Many people benefit from care that addresses the gambling behavior and the stress, anxiety, depression, or substance use concerns that may be connected to it. 

Treatment options and support at River’s Bend

At River’s Bend, we treat gambling addiction with the same compassion and clinical seriousness as any other addiction. Because gambling concerns often overlap with mental health symptoms and substance use, our care can be tailored to the whole person, not just the behavior.

IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program)

Our IOP provides structured support while allowing clients to maintain work, school, or family responsibilities. Treatment commonly includes:

• identifying triggers and interrupting the “chasing losses” cycle
• coping skills for urges, stress, and emotional overwhelm
• relapse prevention planning
• strengthening accountability and support systems

Group therapy

Gambling addiction often grows in isolation. Group therapy helps restore what shame takes away: connection. In a supportive, clinically guided setting, clients can:

• reduce shame and secrecy
• learn strategies from others working toward recovery
• build impulse-control and emotion regulation skills
• practice healthy communication and repair
  

Individual therapy

Individual sessions help clients explore what’s underneath the gambling, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship distress—and build a plan that fits real life. This form of therapy supports:

• personalized goals and coping strategies
• addressing co-occurring mental health symptoms
• rebuilding trust and strengthening relationships
• long-term recovery planning

Dual diagnosis support

Gambling addiction frequently occurs alongside mental health and substance use disorders. Our dual diagnosis approach supports recovery across conditions—helping clients stabilize symptoms, reduce relapse risk, and improve overall functioning.

If you’re not sure what level of care you need, that’s okay. Our team can help you identify the best starting point based on what’s been happening, your support needs, and your goals.

References

1. Clark, L., Averbeck, B., Payer, D., Sescousse, G., Winstanley, C. A., & Xue, G. (2013). Pathological Choice: the Neuroscience of gambling and gambling addiction. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(45), 17617–17623. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3231-13.2013  ↩︎
2. Wood, R. T. A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2006). A qualitative investigation of problem gambling as an escape‐based coping strategy. Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice, 80(1), 107–125. https://doi.org/10.1348/147608306×107881  ↩︎
3. Yau, Y. H. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2015). Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 23(2), 134–146. https://doi.org/10.1097/hrp.0000000000000051  ↩︎
4. Latvala, T., Lintonen, T., & Konu, A. (2019). Public health effects of gambling – debate on a conceptual model. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1077. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7391-z  ↩︎
5. Guillou-Landreat, M., Gallopel-Morvan, K., Lever, D., Goff, D. L., & Reste, J. L. (2021). Gambling Marketing Strategies and the Internet: What do we know? A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 583817. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.583817  ↩︎
6. Cox, C. M., Evans, S. A., Amarante, E. F., Beattie, R., & Catalfamo, J. (2022). The George Washington Law Review. The George Washington Law Review, 90(2). https://www.gwlr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/90-Geo.-Wash.-L.-Rev.-Issue-2-Full.pdf  ↩︎