Posted on: June 3, 2026, 08:45h.
Last updated on: June 3, 2026, 08:45h.
- Researchers at Penn say gambling disorders are neurological conditions
- Over time, the human brain has become adapted to risk-taking
- The gaming industry preys on the vulnerability
A neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia says the human brain has been naturally conditioned to assume risk in its daily activities. New research suggests that those who develop gambling problems shouldn’t be considered personal failures but victims of human evolution.
Michael Platt is a professor at Penn Integrates Knowledge, a collection of 12 schools that are jointly pursuing research across various disciplines to “illuminate some of the most fundamental issues of our time.”
With the meteoric rise of gambling, propelled by the liberalization of sports betting that began in 2018, Platt is focused on better understanding why some people cannot keep their gambling in check.
It turns out that your susceptibility isn’t a personal failing — it’s deeply baked in. It’s a collection of ancient survival scripts, hormonal floods, and cognitive glitches,” said Platt.
The professor explains that certain modern, self-destructive habits have deep, adaptive roots.
Humans Took Risks to Survive
Platt says humans’ ability to take on risk is what has allowed us to become the world’s dominant species.
Our brains didn’t evolve in a world of guaranteed paychecks and retirement accounts, but rather in environments where uncertainty was the norm and survival often depended on making a risky bet,” Platt explained.
“You might take a gamble on challenging a dominant individual because if you win, you gain access to resources that were otherwise completely out of reach,” Platt continued. “When you’re in trouble, a long shot might be the only shot you have.”
Throughout evolution, the human brain grew increasingly exposed and comfortable with risk. Platt says gaming interests have co-opted humans’ risk-taking logic behaviors.
Hormones play a big role. Platt cited testosterone, which is much higher in males, as being a biological amplifier for risk-taking activities.
Impulsive Play
Platt says his research has found that time pressures exacerbate risk-taking decisions.
Platt detailed that when subjects were tasked with choosing between a sure bet and a gamble, they were more inclined to test their luck when their decisions were forced to be made within three or five seconds. When subjects were given more time to consider the choices, they were more risk-averse.
Today’s casinos know this, as slot machines are designed for speed. Sportsbooks offer in-game betting, allowing bettors to gamble continually throughout a game. The trick is to keep the gambler gambling, giving them as little time as possible to consider their activity and choices.
Platt is worried that while traditional casinos still require a gambler to make a conscious decision to get in their car and drive to the casino, the proliferation of online gaming shortens such decision-making time.
“These platforms act as hyper-stimulating substitutes for healthier, real-world interactions,” Platt concluded.
