18/02/2026
The topic of ADHD has exploded into the news in the last few years. This huge surge in public awareness and increased recognition of symptoms means more people than ever are being diagnosed. In May 2025, it is estimated that 2,498,000 people in England have ADHD, including those without a diagnosis.
What is ADHD?
There are 3 main types of ADHD
- Hyperactive and impulsive type ADHD
- Inattentive type ADHD
- Combined type ADHD: Characterised by inattention and distractibility, as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity
ADHD in women, in particular, can be more subtle and harder to recognise, making it more likely they get diagnosed later on in life.
This has led to many people with a late diagnosis feeling that they’ve lost out on valuable support and understanding in their formative years.
The Link Between ADHD and Gambling
The ADHD brain is deficient in dopamine, the brain’s reward centre. This means everyday activities can feel flat, leading to a need for more intense stimulation. This can lead some people to seek out high-stimulation activities such as drinking, drugs and gambling.
Anyone can get addicted to gambling, but those with ADHD can be particularly vulnerable.
The impulsivity that comes with ADHD can make it harder to stop and think things through. Gambling, especially with slots that push you to move quickly, already relies on the user acting without thinking.
While anyone could get addicted to gambling, those with ADHD are more prone to struggle with delayed gratification and control. This leads to seeking activities that provide immediate stimulation and offer the potential for high rewards from high risk, such as gambling.
Understanding your ADHD is one of the best ways to manage it, and a late diagnosis may mean you previously relied on coping strategies that were not right for you.
Managing ADHD
Although those with ADHD can be more vulnerable to gambling addiction, there are plenty of steps you can take to support yourself or someone else:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you identify triggers and negative patterns so you can develop healthy coping mechanisms. This will help you manage addictive urges.
- Medication isn’t for everyone, but if it works for you, ADHD meds can help to stabilise dopamine in the brain, which lowers the temptation to seek instant gratification.
- Seeking positive, high-dopamine activities, such as sports or music. This will leave you feeling fulfilled without the risk and is especially helpful for those with ADHD.
- Download Gamban to remove gambling temptation from your devices. This will block both legal and illegal gambling sites.
- If you’re struggling to manage finances, giving up control to a trusted accountability partner can help you with structure and debt control.
- Talking to others in the same situation can be hugely helpful, through Gamcare or anonymous sources like our Gamban Discord Hub.
The key is to break things down into small, achievable steps rather than trying to tackle everything at once. Making progress on just one of the steps above is an amazing move in the right direction.
