A recent headline from the Daily Mail claimed that "gambling addiction can be inherited". The article suggests that if one of your parents has a gambling addiction, it increases the likelihood that you will also develop a compulsive gambling habit. The writer insists that the addiction is genetic, rather than caused by environmental factors and life experiences.
But is this true? Could a simple DNA test be used to reveal the risk of developing a problem?
Some background
In the study that the Mail reports on, researchers in Australia observed 2,889 pairs of twins who were gamblers. They found that identical twins that were gamblers were more likely to have a twin that was also a gambler, compared to non-identical twins. The researchers conclude that this association is more to do with genetics than environmental factors.
The researchers also wanted to see if genetic gambling addiction could affect women, as past research has only ever found evidence of men passing their tendency to gamble onto their sons. This study found that there was a higher correlation between male identical twins that female identical twins.
The response from the NHS
Concerned by the conclusions being jumped to in the report, the NHS published their own analysis of the study. They pointed out the following limitations:
1. Although the study used a large sample size, it only looked at the Australian population. Further research would be needed to see if the same patterns appear in other populations.
2. The study tried to distinguish between twins who grew up in the same environment and those who didn't, however the methods used to do this were questionable
The NHS article concludes that addictions are complicated and there isn't one single trigger that causes them to develop. Certain behaviours - such as winning at gambling, taking drugs or consuming alcohol - cause a pleasurable feeling, along with a desire to repeat that behaviour and feel that pleasure again. This cycle can develop into a habit and then an addition that's almost impossible to break out of. Genetics, individual circumstances, the influence of other people and environment can all play a role.
The NHS notes that "this is a preliminary study and further research is needed to understand the factors that trigger gambling addiction."
Should you be worried?
If you have a parent who struggles with addiction, there's no reason to worry that you will necessarily develop a similar addiction.
If you or somebody you know has a harmful gambling habit, you can find a list of helpful organisations here.