Gambling Addiction Treatment at Kolmac: Outpatient Care for Gambling Disorder and Co-Occurring Conditions

Gambling disorder is recognized in the DSM-5 as a behavioral addiction. It is the only behavioral addiction with that classification, sharing diagnostic structure with substance use disorders for a clinical reason. The patterns of compulsion, tolerance, distress when stopping, and continued behavior despite real harm look clinically similar.

At Kolmac Integrated Behavioral Health, we treat gambling disorder through the same evidence-based outpatient programs that address substance use and mental health conditions. Care is flexible, available across our locations, and structured so you can begin without stepping away from work, family, or daily life.

Understanding Gambling Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association defines gambling disorder as a persistent pattern of gambling behavior that causes clinically significant impairment or distress. It exists on a spectrum from mild to severe, with severity determined by how many diagnostic criteria a person meets over a 12-month period.

Common diagnostic features include:

• Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement
• Becoming restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop
• Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control or stop gambling
• Frequent preoccupation with gambling, including planning, reliving past wins, or finding ways to get money to gamble
• Gambling when feeling distressed
• Chasing losses by returning to gambling after losing
• Lying to conceal the extent of gambling
• Jeopardizing important relationships, jobs, or opportunities because of gambling
• Relying on others to provide money to relieve financial problems caused by gambling

The legalization of sports betting and the rapid expansion of online gambling platforms have made the behavior more accessible and, by clinical observation, more common. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated 2.5 million U.S. adults meet criteria for severe gambling disorder, with another 5 to 8 million at risk of developing it.

Signs of Gambling Disorder

Gambling disorder usually develops gradually and is easier to recognize from a clinical distance than from inside it. Common signs include:

• Spending more time or money on gambling than intended
• Hiding the extent of gambling activity from family or friends
• Borrowing money or selling belongings to gamble
• Returning to gambling after losses to try to recoup
• Feeling restless, anxious, or irritable when not gambling
• Continued gambling despite mounting financial, relationship, or work consequences
• Loss of interest in activities or commitments that were once important

If several of these patterns apply, a clinical evaluation is a reasonable next step.

Gambling, Substance Use, and Mental Health: The Overlap

Gambling disorder rarely shows up in isolation. Research consistently finds high rates of co-occurring conditions, including alcohol use disorder, depression, anxiety, and other substance use disorders. Treating one condition while leaving the others unaddressed reduces the likelihood of sustained progress.

At Kolmac, gambling disorder is treated within our integrated behavioral health model. Care is coordinated within a single treatment plan so progress in one area supports progress in the others. For individuals managing both gambling and substance use or other mental health conditions, Kolmac’s dual diagnosis treatment approach addresses both simultaneously rather than sequentially.

How Kolmac Treats Gambling Disorder

There is no FDA-approved medication for gambling disorder specifically. Treatment is anchored in evidence-based psychotherapy, with medication management reserved for co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. We individualize every plan to the patient’s clinical needs and goals.

Evidence-Based Therapy (CBT and Motivational Interviewing)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most well-supported clinical approach for gambling disorder. CBT helps patients identify the thoughts, triggers, and beliefs that drive gambling behavior and build practical skills to interrupt the cycle. Motivational interviewing supports patients moving from ambivalence toward sustained behavioral change.

Mental Health IOP

For patients whose gambling is significantly impairing daily functioning or has not responded to weekly therapy, Kolmac’s mental health IOP provides structured group and individual therapy several days per week. Sessions combine clinical work on gambling behavior with treatment of any co-occurring depression, anxiety, or trauma. IOP is structured enough to create clinical momentum and flexible enough to fit around daily responsibilities. When a higher level of care is clinically indicated, partial hospitalization (PHP) offers more intensive daily programming.

Group Therapy and Peer Support

Group work is a core component of Kolmac’s outpatient model. For gambling disorder, groups bring together patients managing similar patterns of compulsion and consequence, building accountability and reducing the isolation that often surrounds the disorder.

Psychiatric Medication Management for Co-Occurring Conditions

For patients with co-occurring depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, Kolmac’s psychiatric providers can prescribe and manage medication as part of a coordinated plan. Medication is one component of treatment, not a standalone solution.

Why Outpatient Care Fits Gambling Treatment

Gambling disorder is a condition shaped by real-world triggers: paydays, sports events, smartphone notifications, social settings. Inpatient treatment creates a clinical buffer, but it does not teach a patient how to navigate those triggers when they return home.

Outpatient care at Kolmac is structured so patients build coping skills in the same environment where they will need to use them. This model has produced strong outcomes for substance use disorder for over 50 years, and the same logic applies to gambling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gambling Really an Addiction?

Yes. The American Psychiatric Association reclassified pathological gambling as gambling disorder in 2013, moving it into the “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” category in the DSM-5. It remains the only behavioral addiction with that classification, reflecting the clinical and neurobiological similarities between gambling and substance addictions.

Do I Need a Substance Use Diagnosis to Get Gambling Treatment at Kolmac?

No. Kolmac treats gambling disorder as a primary concern. A substance use diagnosis is not required to access care.

What Medications Are Used for Gambling Disorder?

There is no FDA-approved medication for gambling disorder specifically. Medication management at Kolmac focuses on co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, which may improve overall outcomes when treated alongside gambling.

How Long Does Gambling Treatment Take?

Duration depends on severity and clinical response. Kolmac’s clinical team determines pacing based on ongoing assessment rather than a fixed timeline.

Does Insurance Cover Gambling Addiction Treatment?

Most major insurance plans cover gambling disorder treatment under behavioral health benefits, particularly when delivered through programs like IOP. Kolmac works with most major insurance plans, and the admissions team will verify your benefits and explain any out-of-pocket costs before you begin.

Start Gambling Addiction Treatment at Kolmac

Reaching out is often the hardest step, especially with a condition that carries significant stigma. The process is straightforward, with clear next steps from the first conversation. Same-day appointments are available.

Kolmac maintains treatment centers across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with virtual access available throughout all four states. Request an appointment, and our admissions team will walk you through your options.