Maybe for some people, not for everyone though.K wrote: "... when you gamble often, the same chemical gets released when you get a near miss. Essentially, your brain gets tricked into thinking you've won and this encourages you to keep going..."
If you have an addictive personality, maybe.
I have always set budgets for punting and keep a track on how I'm travelling. I'm almost $10k up this year. For me, it's a bit of fun and gives a bit more 'life' to sports events.
I had no trouble giving up cigarettes almost 15 years ago and giving up drinking 2 years ago was the easiest thing I've ever done.
I've tried almost every drug you can get your hands on (not H) but never been addicted to any.
I have been a pot smoker for 40 years, the last 20 years I've been working FIFO, so have to pass random drug tests. I know when I have to stop so that there is no issue.
I must say though, since quitting alcohol, I never do the impulsive betting that would sometimes creep into my punting.
Traits of People with High Risk of Developing Addiction
Nevertheless, there are traits that can be recognized in people who have a higher risk of becoming addicted to psychoactive substances rather than just being able to moderate behaviour around these types of substances. People with this higher addiction risk include those who are:
Related to others who have developed addiction
Experiencing other mental health disorders
Adventurous and risk-taking
Disconnected and cautious
Obsessive and compulsive
Apathetic
Unable to self-regulate
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/th ... ersonality