What Does Gambling Do to Your Brain?

When done right, gambling can have a really beneficial effect on your brain. It can literally change the way your brain works. And if you are a disciplined gambler, those changes will be overwhelmingly positive.

As you might imagine, I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to gambling. Therefore, I think I am well-qualified to tell you, from experience, all about the beneficial effects that gambling can have on your brain. Let’s look at all the advantages a self-controlled gambler can look forward to.

Gambling Boosts Your Dopamine Levels

You don’t have to be a neuroscientist to know that gambling, and winning in particular, causes your dopamine levels to go through the roof. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a big role in how you feel pleasure.

I don’t want to bore you with the technicalities of how dopamine works, but in a nutshell, the more dopamine there is in your brain, the better you feel.

And take it from me, gambling really boosts dopamine production. I have noticed that whenever I score a casino win, even a small one, I feel euphoric. This, in turn, strengthens my focus when I am placing my next bets and has often resulted in me getting on winning runs that have stretched for hours on end.

Improves Your Decision-Making

I think that a big reason as to why I am going on such long winning runs after those wins is the fact that gambling has improved my decision-making processes.

Gambling is a fast-paced activity. Images, cards, and betting opportunities are popping up all the time. This means that you have to learn how to instantly take in all that sensory data, process it quickly, and then place a winning wager.

That, my friends, is the definition of excellent decision-making, and successful gamblers seem to have a knack for making more correct decisions than non-gamblers.  

May Slow Down the Aging of the Brain

If you are able to make the right decision quickly, it is a sign that you have a young brain. And gambling can rejuvenate a brain, unlike any other activity.

Deciding whether to Stand or Hit in blackjack or increase a straight roulette wager in a fraction of a second helps your brain stay ‘in shape’. I have seen lots of gambling veterans who are still as sharp as a tack and would go toe to toe with a young university student in any mental contest.

Improves Learning

As you know, learning is a lifelong process, and you need to be a fast learner if you want to succeed in life. Well, I have good news for you, my fellow gamblers – gambling seems to improve our ability to learn.

When you gamble, you form complex networks of circuits in your brain. As you become a more proficient gambler, it is much easier for those circuits to transfer all the signals that circulate in your brain.

I can attest that this is indeed the case. Back in the day when I started gambling, I tended to lose focus, and it would be fair to say that I wasn’t a fast learner.

However, as soon as I started working my brain out with blackjack strategies and slots paylines, I could feel my learning ability go up. 

And that is the best I can recommend – always be patient, try to learn from your mistakes, and gamble responsibly.

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