GLP-1s and Gambling: Anecdotes, Science, and Missing Data
Users report Ozempic and Wegovy curb their urge to gamble. The brain science is plausible. But there's no clinical evidence yet. Here's what we actually know.
Evidence Level: Anecdotal Only
Unlike GLP-1 research on alcohol, nicotine, or opioids, there are zero clinical trials studying semaglutide for gambling addiction. Everything in this article is based on user reports and theoretical mechanisms. No GLP-1 is FDA-approved for any behavioral addiction.
The Bottom Line
Some GLP-1 users report reduced gambling urges — the mechanism (dopamine modulation in reward circuits) makes theoretical sense. But there are no studies, no trials, and no clinical data. This is pure anecdote backed by plausible neuroscience. Take it with appropriate skepticism.
What Users Are Reporting
The reports started appearing on Reddit, TikTok, and in media interviews around 2023-2024. People taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro for weight loss or diabetes noticed something unexpected: their urge to gamble, shop compulsively, or engage in other reward-seeking behaviors had diminished.
User Report #1
"I used to visit Encore Boston Harbor casino at least once a month to play the slot machines. Since he began taking Wegovy, he said, he still goes to Encore with his husband or friends, but he has little desire to play the slots... I don't get that same dopamine spike."
User Report #2
"This is just anecdotal, but I can say with certainty that it worked for me. To go from playing every day for 5 years to finding it too boring to be worth the effort."
User Report #3
"This is not a solution by itself, of course, and I'm not saying it's the only thing that did it, but I'm convinced it helped."
Important caveat: These are self-selected reports from people who noticed an effect. We don't know how many GLP-1 users experienced no change in gambling behavior — they wouldn't be posting about it.
The Science: Why It's Plausible
While there's no direct research on GLP-1s and gambling, the underlying mechanism is consistent with what we know about reward pathways.
The Dopamine Connection
Gambling — like food, drugs, and sex — activates the brain's reward system. When you win (or nearly win), dopamine surges in the nucleus accumbens. This creates the "high" that drives repeated gambling.
GLP-1 receptors are expressed throughout this reward circuitry:
- Ventral tegmental area (VTA) — where dopamine neurons originate
- Nucleus accumbens — where reward signals are processed
- Prefrontal cortex — involved in impulse control
When semaglutide activates these receptors, it appears to dampen dopamine release in response to rewarding stimuli. We've seen this in studies on alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine. Gambling activates the same circuits.
"GLP-1s bind to specific receptors in the brain, especially in areas tied to the reward system: the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex. These regions regulate dopamine and motivation. By targeting these receptors, the drugs blunt dopamine release and reduce reward signaling." — Carolina Haass-Koffler, PhD, Brown University, quoted on GamblingHarm.org
Behavioral Addictions vs. Substance Addictions
Gambling disorder is classified as a behavioral addiction — it doesn't involve a substance, but it hijacks the same reward pathways as drugs. The DSM-5 actually groups gambling disorder with substance use disorders for this reason.
If GLP-1s work by modulating reward circuits (rather than blocking specific drug receptors), they could theoretically affect any behavior that relies on dopamine-driven reward — including gambling.
"Researchers are examining whether the drugs can also help people who are addicted to gambling, sex, and shopping, among other things. These molecules demonstrate exciting early promise in stemming the rising tide of addictive disorders." — Anna Lembke, MD, Stanford Medicine psychiatrist and author of Dopamine Nation
Why There's No Research Yet
Unlike alcohol or opioid research — which has substantial NIH funding — gambling addiction research receives relatively little attention. There are no FDA-approved medications for gambling disorder, and pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to pursue this indication.
The situation:
- Zero clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov for GLP-1s and gambling
- No observational studies analyzing gambling-related healthcare encounters in GLP-1 users
- No preclinical research specifically on GLP-1s and gambling-like behaviors in animals
The Risk of Over-Interpretation
The anecdotal reports are compelling, but we should be cautious for several reasons:
- Selection bias — people who experience an effect are more likely to share it
- Placebo effect — expecting a drug to reduce cravings can itself reduce cravings
- Lifestyle changes — people taking weight loss drugs often make other behavioral changes simultaneously
- Recovery attribution — people in recovery often attribute success to whatever they tried most recently
- Reduced disposable income — monthly GLP-1 costs could reduce gambling budget
⚠️ What We Don't Know
- Whether GLP-1s actually reduce gambling behavior (vs. just user perception)
- What percentage of GLP-1 users experience this effect (if any)
- Whether effects persist or fade over time
- Optimal dosing for behavioral addiction (if it works at all)
- How GLP-1s compare to existing gambling treatments (behavioral therapy, naltrexone)
- Whether effects return after stopping the medication
What Experts Say
Researchers are interested but cautious:
"But we still need more evidence, including longer-term studies." — Anna Lembke, MD, Stanford Medicine
"While GLP-1s may prove effective for some people, others may not respond at all. Some individuals will be able to stop the medication and continue their recovery, while others will relapse. Interindividual variability in response to medications to treat addiction has always been true and will continue to be true with GLP-1s." — Anna Lembke, MD, Stanford Medicine, in Stanford Report
Current Treatment Options for Gambling Disorder
If you're struggling with gambling, evidence-based options exist:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — most evidence-based approach
- Gamblers Anonymous — peer support modeled on AA
- Naltrexone — opioid antagonist sometimes prescribed off-label
- Nalmefene — approved in some countries for gambling
- Self-exclusion programs — casino and online gambling bans
No medication is FDA-approved specifically for gambling disorder.
Should You Try GLP-1s for Gambling?
The honest answer: There's not enough evidence to recommend it.
- Off-label use is unproven — we don't know if it works
- Insurance won't cover it — you'd pay out of pocket for an unproven treatment
- Side effects are real — nausea, vomiting, and GI issues are common
- Proven alternatives exist — CBT has substantial evidence for gambling disorder
That said, if you're already taking a GLP-1 for weight loss or diabetes and notice your gambling urges have decreased, you're experiencing what many others have reported. It may be real — we just can't confirm it scientifically yet.
Summary
The anecdotes are intriguing and the neuroscience is plausible. GLP-1s modulate the same reward circuits that drive gambling behavior. But without a single clinical trial, we're operating on hope and theory, not evidence. If you have gambling disorder, seek proven treatments first. If you're already on a GLP-1 and notice reduced urges, that's interesting — but don't count on it.
Sources
- Boston Globe. "Ozempic side effects also include curbing overall addictive behavior." February 2025. Boston Globe
- Stanford Report. "Five things to know about GLP-1s like Ozempic and addiction treatment." April 2025. Stanford Report
- BU Today. "Do New Obesity and Diabetes Drugs Also Curb Drinking, Gambling, and Other Addictions?" February 2025. BU Today
- Scientific American. "Could New Weight-Loss Drugs like Ozempic Treat Addiction?" February 2024. Scientific American
- GamblingHarm.org. "Ozempic For Gambling Addiction Treatment: Latest News & Research." October 2025. GamblingHarm.org