The symptoms of which are hidden and progressive. Recently in 1994, standards for diagnosing pathological gambling were updated and a fascinating pattern surfaced. Addiction to gambling is quite similar to the addiction to cocaine. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, anxiety, and irritablilty. Problem gambling can originate from a number of reasons.
Culture can have a major impact on attitudes toward gambling.
It is possible that gambling may be associated with religious holidays, church fund-raisers, family occasions, or a way in which adults socialize with friends. So in a sense, gamblers bring these predispositions with them when they walk in the door of a riverboat casino. This evidence contradicts what many recent researchers claim. The fact that more riverboats are opening nationwide does not bring about compulsive gamblers, rather it is learned. To further support this argument, research shows that although exact causes have not been determined, compulsive gambling has been linked to childhood occurrences.