Class Description
This class explains what gambling cravings are, how to measure them, and why they matter for relapse prevention. Participants learn the neurobiology of reward and craving, practice reframing unhelpful thoughts, identify internal and external triggers, and build a coping toolkit that includes healthy distractions, connection, mindfulness, and urge surfing.
Learning Objectives
- Describe 3 differences or relationships between “craving” and “urge”
- List 5 key components of the brain reward system and explain 1 way variable reinforcement sustains gambling behavior
- List 4 common internal and 4 external triggers for gambling urges, and describe 2 strategies to reduce exposure to 1 trigger from each category
- Learn to reframe 3 permission-giving thoughts by describing 1 evidence-based counterstatement for each and listing 1 coping action linked to each counterstatement
- Demonstrate 2 coping skills from different categories — for example, 1 mindfulness technique and 1 connection or healthy-distraction strategy
Educational Goals
- Build a common language for assessing cravings and tracking change across treatment
- Increase understanding of the neuroscience that normalizes cravings and supports motivation for recovery
- Strengthen cognitive and behavioral coping repertoires to reduce relapse risk
- Encourage ongoing use of mindfulness and social connection as sustainable supports for recovery
Outline
- What cravings are and how to measure them — frequency, duration, intensity (10 min.)
- Psychoeducation — brain reward systems and why cravings occur (10 min.)
- Reframing thoughts — cognitive restructuring and permission-giving beliefs (12 min.)
- Triggers and coping toolkit — healthy distractions and connecting with others (14 min.)
- Mindfulness and urge surfing — skills practice and application (14 min.)
Important Notes
Gambling products vary by type, platform, and jurisdiction. This class discusses design features and risk mechanisms that may increase engagement or craving, such as variable rewards, near misses, cue conditioning, and personalization. These examples are offered for clinical education and consumer-protection awareness, not as a claim that every gambling product or operator uses each feature in the same way.
Named tools and resources are provided as examples for education and discussion. CalPG does not require or endorse any specific product, website, or support pathway. Clients and clinicians should select resources based on individual needs, accessibility, cost, privacy, and safety.
Money-access tools can be useful recovery supports when they are individualized, consent-based, and safety-informed. Strategies such as limiting cash/cards, using blocking tools, or involving a trusted person should be selected based on the client’s needs, risks, goals, legal/financial context, and relationship safety. Clinicians should encourage appropriate legal, financial, clinical, or safety consultation when needed.