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🎰 Behavioral Research

GLP-1s and Gambling: The Compulsion Quieter

Reports are emerging of lifelong gamblers losing interest in casinos after starting Ozempic. Here's what we know about why.

December 2025 5 min read
🎲 The Viral Phenomenon
People are reporting that the thrill of gambling—the pull of the slot machine, the rush of the bet—just... stopped mattering to them on GLP-1 medications.

First came reports about reduced food cravings. Then alcohol. Then smoking. Now the pattern is extending to an even more surprising area: gambling.

Online communities are filling with stories of people who were regular casino-goers or sports bettors finding they've completely lost interest—without trying to quit.

The Stories Are Striking

From Patient Communities
"I used to spend every weekend at the casino. Couldn't pass one without stopping. Three months on Mounjaro and I drove past four times without even thinking about it. My wife thought I was sick."
— Reddit r/Mounjaro
"The slot machines don't 'call' to me anymore. That feeling of anticipation, that buzz when you're about to spin—it's just gone. I feel nothing. It's weird but amazing."
— Online GLP-1 community
"Sports betting was a problem for me. Lost a lot of money over the years. Since Ozempic, I haven't placed a single bet. Not because I'm resisting—I just don't care anymore."
— Patient testimony

The Dopamine Connection

Gambling, like eating and substance use, is fundamentally about dopamine—the brain's reward and motivation neurotransmitter.

How Gambling Hijacks the Brain

The unpredictability of gambling creates powerful dopamine spikes. A "near miss" on a slot machine actually releases MORE dopamine than a small win—training the brain to keep chasing.

GLP-1 receptors are found throughout the brain's reward circuitry, including the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. By modulating dopamine release in these regions, GLP-1 medications may dampen the reward signal from ALL compulsive behaviors—not just eating.

Before GLP-1
🎰 → 💥 Big dopamine spike → "I NEED to do this again"
On GLP-1
🎰 → 😐 Muted response → "Meh, whatever"

What Researchers Think

Addiction researchers are cautiously excited. The theory is that GLP-1 medications act as a "volume knob" for reward sensitivity across the board.

Dr. Kyle Simmons, a researcher studying GLP-1s and addiction, has noted that the drugs appear to reduce the intensity of wanting without affecting liking—you might still enjoy a nice meal, but you're not obsessively thinking about food all day.

The same may apply to gambling: you can still have fun at a casino, but the compulsive need to gamble fades.

Not Yet Proven

⚠️ Important Context
Unlike alcohol (where we have actual clinical trial data), the gambling evidence is currently anecdotal. No randomized controlled trials have been completed yet. The mechanism is plausible and the reports are consistent—but we don't have FDA-approved evidence that GLP-1s treat gambling disorder. Yet.

Researchers are taking notice, though. The sheer volume of consistent reports suggests something real is happening, and formal studies are being designed.

Beyond Gambling: All Compulsive Behaviors?

The gambling reports fit a broader pattern. People are reporting reduced urges related to:

All of these behaviors share a common thread: dopamine-driven reward seeking. If GLP-1s truly modulate this system globally, the implications for behavioral medicine are enormous.

Source
Patient reports from Reddit, Facebook groups, and online communities. Mechanistic research on GLP-1 receptors in brain reward pathways. Commentary from addiction researchers including Dr. Kyle Simmons.
The Bottom Line
Reports are emerging of gamblers losing their compulsion after starting GLP-1 medications—consistent with the pattern seen for food, alcohol, and nicotine. The mechanism is plausible: GLP-1 receptors in the brain's reward circuitry may dampen dopamine responses to all addictive behaviors. This hasn't been proven in clinical trials yet, but the anecdotal evidence is striking enough that researchers are taking notice. If you're on a GLP-1 and find yourself walking past casinos without a second thought—you're not alone.
Sources
  1. Patient testimonials from online GLP-1 communities.
  2. Research on GLP-1 receptor distribution in brain reward centers.
  3. Dr. Kyle Simmons research on GLP-1s and addiction.
  4. Mechanistic studies on dopamine modulation by GLP-1 receptor agonists.