Why You Can‘t Stop Gambling After a Winning Streak

We‘ve all felt that irresistible pull at the slot machine, the absolute certainty that our lucky number will hit, the conviction that we can ride our hot streak just a little longer. Winning fuels our belief that the next spin, hand, or play is the one that will set us for life. This time, we‘ll walk away on top…right?

Not if you‘re a problem gambler. For those suffering from gambling addiction, wins only intensify the compulsion and false beliefs that keep them trapped in a cycle of chasing losses. In this article, we‘ll explore why gamblers have such a notoriously hard time stopping after wins and provide tips on what you can do to take control.

Why Winning Triggers the Addiction Loop

Gambling hijacks the brain‘s reward system in much the same way drugs like cocaine do. Each bet causes a release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, creating a euphoric high. This reinforces the addictive behavior, training your brain to associate gambling with pleasure.

But while any form of gambling can stimulate dopamine release, wins produce an especially amplified rush. One recent study found that players experience a 16-fold dopamine surge after a blackjack victory compared to the baseline gambling dopamine level.

This helps explain why wins can be such a dangerous trigger, feeding gambling addiction. The elation you experience clouds judgement, reduces self-control, and fuels risk-taking. Chasing the high, problem gamblers obsessively return to the game attempting to reproduce that flood of feel-good neurotransmitters.

And this pattern quickly escalates into addiction…

Cognitive Distortions: False Beliefs After Wins

Beyond neurochemical factors, wins also dangerously reinforce the cognitive distortions underlying gambling addiction – mainly the illusions of control and validity.

Illusion of control refers to the gambler‘s belief that they can exert control over uncontrollable games of chance through sheer skill. A string of wins inflates this feeling of power and command over outcomes.

Similarly, wins seem to validate the gambler‘s system – "I knew it would hit!", "My strategy works!". This cements the false belief that their actions can predict results in random games, keeping them trapped in the cycle.

Buoyed by validation, gamblers often escalate bets after wins, sinking deeper in the quicksand of addiction.

Why Gamblers Falsely Think They‘ll Stay Ahead

Further driving compulsive gambling after wins is an unrealistically positive perception of long-term outcomes. A multi-year study of slots players revealed:

• 94% believed they could come out ahead if they played long enough
• 63% felt on the verge of a big payout after a recent win
• 41% disagreed that luck plays any role, citing skill instead

This overly optimistic outlook substantiates why so many gamblers fall victim to the house edge over time. In the short-term, that one jackpot may falsely signal the start of a lucky streak.

Tips: Stopping After A Winning Session

If you recognize signs of compulsive gambling in yourself, here are some tips to stop after wins and resist temptation:

• Set (and keep) a stop limit after reaching a certain threshold of winnings
• Cash out credits/chips – don‘t let them remain available in the game
• Take a break – walk away and self-exclude if needed
• Avoid triggers like gambling venues and apps during this vulnerable time
• Connect with support groups to reinforce restraint
• Remind yourself games are random – wins are lucky anomalies rather than predictive skill

With help, dedication to recovery, and vigilant awareness of triggers like wins, gambling addiction can be overcome. You can break from harmful cognitive distortions and retrain your brain‘s reward system. There are many resources available – don‘t be afraid to ask for assistance.

Stay strong and keep fighting. You‘ve got this!