It’s not unusual for alcohol and gambling addictions to overlap. When they do, it’s common for the two behaviours to reinforce each other and make things harder. That’s why it’s important to treat both addictions in order to recover. Understanding the relationship between alcohol and gambling addictions is the first step.
How are gambling and alcohol addictions connected?
Research among adults with gambling problems suggests that around one in six have a history of alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol can affect judgment and lower inhibitions. This means a person may take more risks with gambling when they’re drinking alcohol. At the same time, alcohol changes your mood, making gambling wins feel bigger and losses harder to handle. This can lead to more drinking.
Why do people develop both addictions?
Alcohol and gambling addiction can develop together for many reasons. These can include:
- A person’s background, experiences or environment
- Family life can shape the way a person thinks about drinking or gambling
- Different reactions to risk, excitement or reward – these can come from ongoing stress or past trauma
Cross addiction
Stopping one addictive behaviour can sometimes lead a person to become dependent on another one. This is known as cross addiction.
For example, a person who stops drinking may begin gambling because it gives them a similar feeling of relief or excitement. This can also work the other way around.
If the causes of addiction aren’t addressed, the mind can look for a replacement behaviour. This is why it’s not unusual for people to be addicted to more than one substance or behaviour before they seek help. Dealing with more than one addiction at the same time is known as ‘co-occurring addiction’.
The effects of gambling and alcohol addiction
Alcohol and gambling problems can affect a person’s life in many different ways.
Financial harm
Online gambling makes it easy to lose money quickly. When spending becomes harder to control and debts rise, it can affect a person’s home, work and their overall sense of stability.
Drinking can worsen the situation by clouding judgment. This can make it even harder to manage money or make good decisions.
Mental health
Problems with alcohol and gambling are both linked to anxiety, depression and low mood. Gambling can be especially harmful as it’s tied to higher rates of suicidal thoughts.
Physical health
Heavy drinking causes damage to the liver, heart and nervous system over time. Gambling doesn’t harm the body directly, but it can cause chronic stress. This can lead to high blood pressure and physical exhaustion.
Relationships
When spending or behaviour becomes hard to talk about with family members, trust can be affected. Those close to the person may also find themselves taking on extra worry or responsibility.
What to look out for if you’re worried about alcohol or gambling
Often, the signs of addiction are noticed by the people around the person before they recognise it themselves.
Alcohol and gambling problems follow similar patterns. This includes struggling to control behaviour, needing more over time, and continuing despite the harm it causes.
When both addictions overlap, you might notice signs of one problem first, or a mix of both.
Signs of alcohol addiction
- Needing more alcohol to feel the same effect
- Drinking alone or at unusual times
- Withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, sweating or irritability when not drinking
- Memory problems or difficulty making decisions
- Taking risks while drinking, such as driving while over the limit
- Continuing to drink despite harm to relationships or health
Signs of gambling addiction
- Feeling unable to stop gambling, even after losses
- Betting larger amounts over time
- Hiding gambling from family or friends
- Constantly thinking about gambling or planning the next bet
- Chasing losses with more bets
- Borrowing money or falling into debt
- Feeling anxious, restless or irritable when not gambling
Alcohol addiction | Gambling addiction
Why treating alcohol and gambling addiction together matters
It’s important to treat alcohol and gambling addictions together. If only one addiction is addressed, the other can trigger a relapse. Someone who stops drinking but continues to gamble may find themselves back in environments or emotional states that make staying sober difficult. The reverse is also true.
Because alcohol and gambling problems often stem from the same underlying issues, treating them in a single programme allows for a more thorough and effective approach. Treatment can focus on the patterns and triggers that cause both behaviours.
Treatment at Smarmore Castle
Some people consider getting professional help for gambling and alcohol addiction.
At Smarmore Castle, our approach to treatment includes:
- Care for both addictions within the same programme
- A team of doctors, therapists and recovery specialists working together
- An abstinence-based model using evidence-based therapies
- Support for the physical effects of alcohol and the psychological drivers of gambling
- Family involvement, recognising that addiction affects the whole household
- Personalised treatment plans shaped around your history and circumstances
Many people who come to us are also living with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression or trauma. This is known as dual diagnosis. We make sure mental health and addiction are supported together.
Gambling rehab and Alcohol rehab
How to get help for alcohol and gambling addiction
If you’re worried about your own situation or someone close to you, you can talk it through with our admissions team. They can explain what gambling and alcohol addiction treatment involves and what your options are.
Call us today on +353 41 986 5080.
Self-help resources
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
