Gambling Addiction (Part II)
Cracking the Gambling Addiction Code
An algorithmic node—that’s what a problem gambler is—in the addiction network. Online sports gambling is a significant part of the prediction economy, a system in which future (or even split-second live) bets can result in lucrative payoffs for an infinitesimally small number of winners. The problem is not with the anticipated gain; it’s the assumption that somehow a loss will be altogether avoided, or worse, not considered at all. Here’s what I mean. In order for the sports gambling system to capture pools of willing players, significant amounts of data have to be collected on “monetized targets,” notably where they live, play, and work; who they follow in the sports world; why they enjoy live betting more than static gambling; when they’re likely to place small, medium, or large bets; how frequently they wager over a given time period; and which mix of parlays or prop bets are most appealing to them, among many other considerations. What gambling addicts don’t realize is this: the very same information they voluntarily share in responding to an affinity-based questionnaire or on a rapport-building phone call will, at some point, be used for their own demise. I call this the entrapment of systemic risk. Stay with me now. In effect, every sports gambler’s individual risk (and affinity, VIP profile) is added to the group’s mutual risks. The problem? Betters rarely share in collective gains but do quite often participate in cumulative losses through the law of large numbers. And when gamblers try to walk away from impulsive betting, frequency capital will be used to reel them back in. Managing moods is the biochemical manipulation key bookmakers deploy to unlock, really extract, more and more money from out-of-tune gamblers.
Sports bets are often made on the basis of superstitious beliefs, lucky hunches, past performances, forecasted trends, and of course, expert opinions (thanks, in large part, to celebrity endorsements from retired pro athletes and comedy icons). You see, the currency of assurance is the insurance of conviction. And this is precisely why gambling companies pay influential voices—who often leverage their larger than life colorful personalities or comedic routines in scripted, attention-grabbing advertisements—a boatload of money. The outlay is certainly worth the investment from a return-on-capital perspective. It’s a brilliant marketing tactic using an incredibly deceptive entrapment practice. This practice, among others, is what keeps gambling addicts locked into a game with bad outcomes. Pay up. Play on. Pray for. That next winning bet! By the way, humor influences human emotion and distorts logical thinking, serving as an embellishment hook to draw people in rather than to push them away. Don’t ask questions, just laugh at the joke, flow with the skit, embrace the punchline, and forget your problems. But there’s nothing funny about losing a job, spouse, or worse, a loved one through suicide due to a runaway gambling addiction.
“He’s Feeling It!”
I’m a big fan of Carmelo (Mr. Cool) Anthony. I followed him at Syracuse, where he lead the Orangemen to a 2003 National Championship as a freshman. The Hall of Fame legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist had an illustrious NBA career. He scored 28,289 points in 19 NBA seasons. As the ultimate “Shot Hunter” and “Bucket Maker,” his confidence in scoring timely baskets was second to none. In our modern era, MJ was certainly next level, Kobe was a close second, and Kevin Durant right behind him. But Anthony could give all three of these all-world scorers a run for their money as the crème de la crème in making sure that spherical ball went through that orange hoop. With pinpoint accuracy! What I especially admired about Anthony was his ability to score—at will—on all four Olympic teams. Different makeup, same outcome. No matter who was on the floor with him, he knew how, where, and when to get his points. That’s why his insights carry a lot of weight as an NBC-Peacock basketball analyst for NBA games. During halftime of the fourth NBA playoff game between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony’s commentary on live player props for DraftKings caught my attention. Regarding Caris LeVert, a reserve player for the Pistons who scored 17 points in the first half, Anthony emphatically stated that LeVert would easily score more than the prop betting line, 23+. “All, that’s easy; he will get that in the third quarter!” LeVert had 22 points by the end of the third quarter, and finished with 24 for the game. Here’s the question to ask: How many viewers were persuaded by Anthony’s insights to bet on LeVert scoring more than 23 points before the start of the second half? Probably a lot.
The lure of predictive betting is very tempting to pass up. As noted in Part I of this series, I’m not a gambler. However, I do make predictive forecasts all the time as a former NBA player while watching college or pro basketball games. Because I am keenly familiar with the psychology and physiology of the sport, I do have “inside information” at my disposal. Through a production (more than a prediction) lens, I observe players’ and coaches’ body of work in previous games as well as their body language in the current game. Face of flight or focused for the fight? Blinking rapidly tends to convey stress, anxiety, and timidity, which may indicate that the moment is too big for a coach, player, or team to handle. My son Eli and I stayed up late to watch the first game of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, won a thriller in double overtime against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I told him before heading to bed, “The Thunder are going to win game two by 8 to 10 points.” OKC won by 9. The Spurs gave a valiant effort, but OKC players had a different look in their eyes compared to the first game. They picked up their defense, pushed the tempo, and rode the wave of their electric crowd to a much-needed win. As the defending NBA champs, they had no other choice but to save face.
Incentives matter more than player stats or prop lines, which sports fans or gambling enthusiasts may not realize. Let’s revisit Caris LeVert’s game four breakout performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first round of the playoffs against the Orlando Magic, he averaged under 3 points a game. LeVert is a capable player; however, he struggled mightily against the Magic. But in the second round, LeVert averaged over 9 points, a 3x per-game scoring boost compared to the first round. What happened? Here’s my take. First, LeVert used to play for the Cavs. Obviously the team traded him; he may still have beef with Cavalier ownership about this. Second, he was born in the Buckeye State but played college basketball for that team up north. Cleveland Cavs fans reacted with boos to images on the jumbo screen of Jim Harbaugh, the former head coach of that team up north. I’m sure this fired up LeVert even more. Third, he is from Central Ohio, a roughly two-hour drive from downtown Cleveland. Now why wouldn’t he play better in front of family and friends who made the trip up from Columbus to support him against his former team? I would never share, no matter the financial incentive, any information for public consumption that could lead a problem gambler into financial ruin based on my “inside-information” recommendations. Keep the millions; I’m good.
Faith, Framework, Belief Continuum
The faith framework (in what someone predicts while being a voice of trust) is part of the belief continuum, from plausibility to possibility to probability. Plausible. Possible. Probable. As you can tell by the synonym and semantic wordplay used, this type of belief offers the illusion of certainty at the expense of free choice through a cleverly packaged neuroscience hacking system. Guess where the faith framework and belief continuum are located in the brain? The temporal lobe, an area that also houses long-lasting memories, deep-rooted emotions, life-application scripts, trigger-inducing sounds, and aromatic-blended scents. The fragrance of a (perceived) winning bet passes the smell test long before, not after, it ever happens. And we know expectation and experience don’t always see eye to eye! Now, this doesn’t deter most gambling addicts who get caught up in the expectation-experience disappointment zone. No, they’re still convinced of the eventual outcome (in spite of evidence to the contrary), which is why they place their unwavering faith that it, or a follow-up wager, will at some point pay off.
This is the classic case of the stick dangling the proverbial carrot, also known as Pavlovian conditioning or associative learning (where a test subject can only opt in but not opt out of a reflex-guided experiment). Yes, dopamine may drive the conviction vehicle, but depleted levels of oxytocin are what fuel a wagering addict’s willingness to stay on the gambling belongingness bus, better yet, bankruptcy bust. And this, my friends, is an exhausting ordeal to pull off. Online all the time but in need of a lifeline. In a VIP suite full of other “lucky” gamblers while feeling alone in the corner of the room as the biggest loser. With family and close friends—at festive events full of laughter—who aren’t privy to the depth of darkness and newfound space-cadet ways of their loved one drowning in misery. If you’re an empath like me, you can feel their pain and grasp how problematic this whole setup is. It’s not a fair fight when a problem gambler can’t see or duck from the next punch coming. His reflexes are compromised, just the way gambling companies and their well-paid addiction scientists like it. (As a self-taught neuroscience hack and transparency ideologue, oxytocin is a connection pathway that I often appeal to as an empathetic-driven writer. Honesty is always the best policy.)
Before closing out this article, I want to introduce readers to a young man that I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring for the last year or so. To protect his identity, I’ll refer to him as “Ryan,” the alias he requested. Ryan’s a natural go-getter with an entrepreneurial spirit and stellar background in sales. His wisdom and understanding of life are quite impressive for a 24 year old. Heck, I learn just as much from him as he gleans from me. Unfortunately, Ryan’s a former sports gambling addict. At one point, his winnings exceeded $120,000. His losses? They were just over $225,000. Net-net, he’s in the hole more than $100,000. Some of his wins and losses are highlighted in the screenshots below. Ryan won early and often in the beginning, which kickstarted his gambling addiction. Off the rip, he won $28,000 in three hours without having a dollar of his own money at risk! As a result, BET365 banned him after he beat their algorithm; he won too much too quickly. However, the Midas touch eventually wears off for every above-average sports gambler, Ryan included. His addiction caught up with him, and he paid a handsome price for it—financially, relationally, and inspirationally.
A few years ago, Ryan’s sitting in the back seat of his parents car on the way to dinner with them. He notes, “I had just lost over $3,000—in a matter of minutes—using a sports betting app! Shocked and dazed, all I could do was continue scrolling while looking for my next pick-me-up bet.” The algorithm sent him into a state of fog, a common side effect experienced by problem gamblers. Ryan adds, “I couldn’t even have a meaningful conversation with my mom and dad. My mind was somewhere else, which was so disrespectful to them.” And that’s what a gambling addiction does to many players: they morph into (or take on) a scaled-down version of their best selves. It’s subtle, but as they bet and lose more, meaning is lost in lockstep with the money. Ryan continues, “I lived for that next wager. I made the erroneous assumption that this would be my purpose in life, an A-rated gambler who could consistently beat the odds.” His emotional state took a beating right alongside his betting: disgust, anger, shame, regret, and shock overwhelmed him. He concludes, “I lost myself and a girlfriend over my out-of-control gambling problem. What’s worse, I wasted so much time chasing an empty thrill.” Ryan’s still here, but some problem gamblers aren’t as fortunate. In the last installment of this series, I’ll discuss the pathological effects of runaway gambling addictions. Thank you.
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Gambling Addiction (Part I)
Huge risks, big(ger) payoffs. For the record, I’m not a gambler. Nope, it has never been a gravitational pull of mine. However, I have seen many people, including former NBA teammates, get bitten by the gambling bug over the years. The side effects? Well, they’re dose dependent and ever present. More on them a bit later. Gambling has always been a part of the NBA culture, whether it’s card games with multi-thousand dollar jackpots on long road trips to the east (or west) coast in private planes, frivolous bets on half-court trick shots before and after practice, or locker room wagers on which referees are likely to officiate hotly contested playoff games, from one round to the next. I witnessed these scenarios—and many others—firsthand in the NBA. “Bet that” was part of our everyday, testosterone-driven lexicon; nothing was off the gambling table. It’s much worse today! The side effects of gambling addictions result in long-lasting symptoms, from financial problems to relationship challenges to internal stressors to sleepless nights to mental health issues, in particular, circadian rhythm disruptions. By the way, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And yes, even casual betting indulgences can morph into full-blown gambling pursuits when triggered by an unforeseen setback, such as a job loss, economic downturn, death of a life partner (or beloved family member), or any number of crises-related events. What usually happens here is the chase becomes the run to the fun. To a place of refuge or from a space of torment. Either way, the addiction fix is in.
Are some individuals, like myself, predisposed to addictive tendencies because of genetic (or heritable) traits, epigenetic (or environmental) influences, or optogenetic (or shiny-object) sources? The evidence is mixed. Opinions vary in the medical community from “not at all” to “significantly so.” Here’s what we do know about people who have an innate ability to bet on themselves, many gambling addicts included. These individuals generally fall into one or more categories: movers and shakers, risk takers, and/or opportunity makers. Let’s break each of these down from a psychological point of view:
Movers and Shakers
Movers and shakers make things happen. Right now! For them, sitting still is missing out on the action. Even in a confined space of intense boredom, their mind is moving from one thought to the next. Broadly speaking, they’re long on creating million-dollar ideas in record time but short on producing the feasibility studies needed to pull them off. The number one drawback of movers and shakers? It’s easy for them to confuse movement for progress. In fact, going somewhere may not get them anywhere.
Risk Takers
Next up is risk takers, who cover the gamut. At one end of the spectrum are methodical and meticulous risk-taking brain types. Planning typically comes before acting. They’re philosophical and are often described as having “mundane personalities.” They usually excel in math and sciences, which is why they’re drawn to analytics and arbitrage strategies when gambling. At the other end of the risk-taking spectrum, we find carefree and careless brain types. When they feel it—that urge to splurge or need for speed—they’ve already acted upon it. An impulsive purchase. An unsolicited critique. A high-stakes wager. For these individuals, they assume delay automatically means denial. And in the world of sports betting, they’re prone to losing their shirts. Literally! Due to their spontaneous and combustible personalities, they’ll jump in the pool at the casino after a big win or pledge their home as collateral to chase a huge loss. One thing is fairly certain: they often move in lockstep with their mood. (I’ll cover this phenomenon in greater detail in Part II of this series.)
Opportunity Makers
Opportunity makers do just that … make opportunities happen for themselves and others. With this group, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Gut instincts, not impulses, drive their opportunity bus. As hockey legend Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots that you don’t take.” So true, but some shots are not worth taking regardless of the colorful appearances, celebrity endorsements, or commercial advertisements. Why gamble with your health or wealth using somebody else’s opinion?
Why Males Can Compartmentalize Gambling Losses at the Expense of Isolated Wins
Not surprisingly, males are more impacted by gambling addictions than females. By a wide margin! Sounds controversial, but it shouldn’t be. According to Dr. Helena Boschi, an accomplished author and renowned psychologist specializing in applied neuroscience, she writes, “Men’s brains display front-to-back connectivity within the [left and right] hemispheres, moving between perception and decision-making” (reference #1). Women’s brains, Boschi notes, “are wired more laterally, between the hemispheres, suggesting greater communication between analysis and intuition.” (reference #2). Fellas, don’t shoot the messenger, but women are generally more intelligent than men. Ladies, I’m sure you already know this :). Neuroanatomy differences may also explain why male drivers pay higher car insurance premiums than female motorists. If male and female brains are exactly the same, then why are our risk profiles for automobile insurance so vastly different? Independent of ADD and ADHD diagnoses, risk-seeking behaviors are usually par for the course in the male brain. And gaming companies know this, which is why pubescent boys are being set up to become lifelong gaming and gambling customers through addictive video games with picturesque backdrops, exhilarating sounds, and masculine messages. Optical illusions. Acoustic frequencies. Semantic associations. A marketing campaign trifecta with terrible societal consequences.
Reference #1 and #2
Dr. Helena Boschi. Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Our Brain to Get the Best Out of Ourselves and Others. Chapter One, page 15. Wiley Publishing, 2020.
Chris Broussard is a sports analyst and commentator on FS1. Alongside Nick Wright, he is the co-host of the popular afternoon sports show, First Things First. A devout Christian, family man, and community ambassador, Broussard has worked for The New York Times, ESPN, ABC, and Fox Sports Radio. He covered the NBA’s blockbuster gambling scandal in 2025 involving Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones. Rozier, a guard with the Miami Heat, and Billups, an NBA Champion and Portland Trail Blazers head coach, have been placed on indefinite suspension by the league as their cases are still under FBI investigation. Jones, a former NBA player and teammate of mine in Sacramento, pleaded guilty on April 24, 2026, to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy. In an interview, Broussard highlights, “The professional leagues may have inadvertently made a deal with the devil by getting in bed with these gambling companies.” He adds, “And there was no way to shield players from getting caught up in some kind of gambling scandal.”
I was heartbroken by the news when it first broke. I thought to myself, “This is a really bad nightmare. Current and former NBA players allegedly mixing and mingling with mob families to dupe unsuspecting poker players out of millions of dollars through rigged setups. Say it ain’t so?” The game I love and league I defend is facing a crisis in confidence on three fronts. First, this scandal will fuel skeptics who already think (with this serving as added proof) that the NBA is nothing more than scripted choreography. It’s not, but every missed open shot, careless turnover, or senseless foul will be scrupulously examined from a “suspect-entertainment lens.” Second, current players will face even more scrutiny from sports betters masquerading as diehard fans when wagers miss the payoff mark. An irate sports bettor rolled down his car window to confront NBA superstar, Jimmy Butler, who was standing on the curb in New Orleans while in town to play the Pelicans. “Bro, I put $3,000 to win 30 [thousand]. Why you ain’t have 30 points? Jimmy Butler, why you didn’t have the 30 points? You were supposed to go OVER b—h. You work for Vegas? You work for Vegas?” Third, how will America’s youth be affected, really infected, by the gambling bug if no safeguards are put in place to protect them? Without an alternative course of action, they’ll likely fall victim to gambling devices in adulthood, if not before. We’re in big trouble folks.
In closing, I shared the stage recently in Denver with Rob Minnick, a former gambling addict now turned recovery advocate. We were participating in an event hosted by Doura-Schawohl Consulting and several Colorado legislators to limit sports betting in the state. (The bipartisan bill passed this week and is awaiting Governor Jared Polis’ signature.) For six years, Minnick struggled with a runaway gambling addiction. From parlays to blackjack to slot machines, he gambled every day online and in the casinos for 6 to 8 hours. Upon first glance, he didn’t fit my jaded, gambling addict profile. Minnick is polite, soft-spoken, and measured with his words. His Youtube channel and One Day At A Time (ODAAT) website are timely resources that shed light on this growing epidemic, with over six million Americans battling mild to severe gambling addictions (reference #3). Minnick’s story is best illustrated against the backdrop of Dr. Steve Rose’s Seven Excuse Traps.
Reference #3
Dr. Kent S. Hoffman. Addiction Help: Gambling Addiction Statistics. March 3, 2026. www.addictionhelp.com/gambling/statistics/
With Excuse #1: The Excitement Trap, Minnick’s addiction was set in motion by that initial dopamine hit coursing through his body. He points out, “This is where I got suckered in by the fun. Without that thrill, the gambling ride would have been boring and pointless for me.” The dangling carrot, Excuse #2: The Hope Trap, kept Minnick in the gambling feedback loop. Pay up. Play on. Pray for. That next win streak! Even when his losses piled up, Minnick convinced himself that one more bet—a winning wager—would cure his addiction in full. He admits, “Gambling addicts dig in when they should bail out.” That ray of hope, a promising payday, kept the hype fuel lit. The Progress Trap, Excuse #3, is where gamblers find themselves stuck in a rut with no tow truck in sight. Minnick warns, “Here is where the near-miss fallacy kicks in. You lose by a point and tell yourself, ‘Man, I was so close. Keep going.’” A gambling addict’s brain releases a larger dose of dopamine in comparison to someone in the general population who also almost wins. That extra surge fed Minnick’s urge.
Excuses 4 and 5 can be paired together, The Control Trap and The Escape Trap. Discipline, due diligence, and determination were factors that allowed Minnick to feel in control in an uncontrollable environment. He even developed some peculiar rituals while trying to escape from the madness. “I wore the same clothes, sat in the same spot, and hit the blackjack table in the same place every time before I bet. I even listened to vedic chants to center myself. Of course, nothing worked.” Excuse #6: The Connection Trap is where gambling delusions reach their highest peak. Minnick shares, “You’re paying for friendships with complete strangers.” He adds, “Your losses are funding the luxury suites gambling companies invite you to enjoy. Think about how crazy that is!” What’s even more disheartening is that VIP gamblers tell themselves, “I belong here and can get pretty good at this.” And just when a gambling addict tries to get out, the push notifications and free-cash ads ramp up. That’s why Excuse #7: The Marketing Trap, won’t let a betting enthusiast just walk away on his or her own terms. Minnick explains, “It’s so sinister what gambling companies do; they know us almost better than we know ourselves.” He concludes, “Fighting fair is not in their best interest financially.” Stay tuned for Part II in this series, The Physiology of Gambling Addictions, which will be released next week.
