Addiction remains one of the great mysteries of human behaviour. Problem gambling is especially puzzling, as psychologists struggle to understand what drives people to become addicted to casino games. A recent study by researchers at the University of British Columbia sheds some light on the issue with its ‘rat casino’ research.
In 2009, Psychology Professor Catharine Winstanley’s created the world’s first gambling experiment with animal models. 32 rats gambled for pellets by playing a game based on a poker machine. The machines consisted of three lights and two levers, and the rats’ behaviour with the games offers some insight about the way in which problem gamblers perceive their experience.
Past research has suggested that problem gamblers treat near-misses like wins. Professor Winstanley’s study has shown that the rat subjects do the same. A near-miss refers to a situation when playing pokie in which the player almost makes a winning combination. Instead, they miss completely – but the minds of problem gamblers tend to register them as wins.
This is particular harmful because it leads players to believe that they are more successful than they actually are, and distorts their perception and behaviour. The researchers treated the rats with medication that blocks D4 receptors, which are linked to addictive behaviour and other psychiatric conditions. The problem gambling behaviour was minimised after treatment.
“Our work brings us a step closer to the goal of drug-based treatment for people suffering from gambling disorders, a group that experiences higher rates of divorce, suicide and crime than non-gamblers,” says Professor Winstanley. The research team still requires further research before being able to confirm that drugs are a viable treatment method for gambling addiction.
In the meantime, problem gamblers are urged to see help from counsellors and support from their friends and family.
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