Causes of gaming addiction. Why do problems with gaming begin? Various models try to explain why some people become addicted to gaming. Behaviorism emphasizes the role that learning plays. When a person plays and wins, he learns that such behavior (playing) is followed by a positive result (making money). This phenomenon is called "positive reinforcement." In gambling for money, people talk about “intermittent” reinforcement, meaning that winnings are random and not predictable. Neuroscience research has confirmed that when faced with this type of reinforcement, people tend to continue the behavior even if the positive consequences are only random. In a game, this results in the player continuing to play in the hope of winning, even though the losses are greater than the wins! It is well known that many people who have had a gambling addiction report experiencing significant winnings early in their gambling "career": it is then as if the experience remains cemented in their memory, fueling the belief that they can reproduce such a win again. Other models (cognitive) explain gambling addiction by players’ inadequate beliefs about the game, in particular, regarding the possibility of a positive influence on the outcome of the game. Such beliefs strengthen the hope of winning and, therefore, increase the incidence of gaming behavior. However, when gambling for money, it is important to remember two basic principles. First, negative expectation of winning: this means that statistically the player will invariably lose in the long run when he loses the amounts he won; conversely, the gaming industry, which shapes the statistical structure of winnings in such a way as to take a commission, will always win in the long run. Secondly, the principle of independence of bets. This means that in real money gambling there is no connection between different gaming sessions, each game played is independent, and it is impossible to predict the outcome of bets based on knowledge of previous bets. Maladaptive beliefs (irrational cognitions) of players contradict these two basic principles. For example, a player will think that the more he plays, the more likely he is to win, or that if a win has already occurred, there is about the same chance of getting a second win. Other models tend to show that addictive gambling also has a biological basis. There is likely a common biological basis for addiction problems, including gambling addiction, related to the so-called reward circuitry. This corresponds to the circuitry of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter involved in reward and reinforcement mechanisms. According to these models, people with gambling addiction will exhibit a disruption of this dopamine circuitry, which will cause a feeling of tension. The game will then be used as a means to regulate dopamine levels, thereby momentarily reducing tension. The current trend is to believe that the causes of gambling addiction are varied and relate to biological, psychological and social factors.