Gambling in Colorado has exploded. Since voters approved sports betting in 2020, the state has seen wagers skyrocket from $2.3 billion to over $6.3 billion, a staggering 174% increase in just a few years. While those dollars fund important programs like Colorado’s water conservation projects, they’ve also created a hidden cost: a growing wave of gambling addiction affecting thousands of Coloradans.
If you’re reading this, you might be worried about your own gambling habits. Or maybe you’re concerned about someone you love, a partner who’s become secretive about money, a friend who can’t seem to stop betting, or a family member whose personality has changed along with their bank account. Recognizing gambling addiction, whether in yourself or someone else, is the hardest first step. But it’s also the most important one.
At Colorado’s Best Mental Health Clinic – Axis Integrated Mental Health, we understand that gambling addiction rarely exists in isolation. It often shows up alongside depression, ADHD, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. That’s why we’ve built a comprehensive network of care across Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Westminster–partnering with specialized providers like Kindbridge, Colorado’s leading gambling addiction therapy experts, to ensure you get the right help at the right time.
How Do I Know If I Have a Gambling Addiction?
Gambling addiction shows up when betting interferes with your daily life, relationships, finances, or mental health. Common signs include:
- Betting more money than you can afford to lose
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back
- Lying to family or friends about gambling activities
- Chasing losses by betting more to win back money
- Gambling to escape problems or relieve anxiety.
You might notice you’re thinking about gambling constantly, planning your next bet, reliving past wins, or figuring out how to get money to gamble. Maybe you’ve tried to stop or cut back but found yourself placing bets again within days or even hours. Perhaps you’ve missed work, canceled plans with friends, or neglected responsibilities because of gambling.
The clinical definition comes from the DSM-5, which recognizes gambling disorder as a behavioral addiction similar to substance use disorders. Mental health professionals diagnose gambling disorder when someone shows at least four of these signs within a 12-month period: needing to bet increasing amounts, feeling restless when cutting back, repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop, preoccupation with gambling, gambling when feeling distressed, chasing losses, lying about gambling, jeopardizing relationships or opportunities, or relying on others for money after gambling losses.
Many people with gambling addiction also struggle with depression, ADHD, or impulse control issues. These conditions often feed into each other, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break alone. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 2-3% of Americans meet criteria for gambling disorder, with rates significantly higher in states with legalized sports betting like Colorado.
If several of these signs sound familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not weak or broken. Gambling addiction is a recognized mental health condition with effective treatments available right here in Colorado.
The Connection Between Gambling Addiction and Mental Health
Gambling addiction almost never exists by itself. It typically intertwines with other mental health conditions, creating complex patterns that require comprehensive treatment approaches.
Impulse Control and ADHD
People with ADHD face a significantly higher risk of developing gambling problems. Research shows they’re 2-3 times more likely than the general population to struggle with gambling addiction. The connection makes sense when you understand how ADHD affects the brain.
ADHD involves difficulties with impulse control and decision-making, particularly around immediate rewards. The dopamine-seeking behavior that characterizes ADHD makes the quick highs of gambling particularly appealing. When you place a bet, your brain releases dopamine, the same neurotransmitter that people with ADHD naturally produce in lower quantities. Gambling becomes a form of self-medication, temporarily providing the brain stimulation that ADHD brains crave.
The problem intensifies because ADHD also affects executive function: your ability to plan ahead, consider consequences, and regulate behavior. This makes it harder to recognize when gambling has become problematic and even harder to stop once the pattern starts.
Treatment needs to address both the gambling behavior and the underlying ADHD, which is exactly the kind of integrated care Axis Integrated Mental Health provides across our Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Westminster locations.
Depression and Gambling
The relationship between depression and gambling runs in both directions, creating a vicious cycle that traps many people.
Gambling can cause depression through the financial devastation, relationship damage, and overwhelming shame that often accompany addiction. As debts pile up and lies multiply, depression naturally follows. The stress of hiding gambling losses, dealing with angry creditors, or facing a partner’s heartbreak creates persistent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.
But depression can also drive gambling behavior. When you’re depressed, gambling offers a temporary escape from negative thoughts and feelings. The excitement of placing a bet provides a brief reprieve from the numbness or sadness of depression. Some people describe gambling as one of the few times they feel anything at all when depression has dulled their emotional responses.
This bidirectional relationship makes treatment particularly important. Stopping gambling without addressing underlying depression often leads to relapse, as the depression persists and gambling remains one of the few known ways to feel temporarily better. Similarly, treating depression while active gambling continues rarely succeeds, as gambling constantly regenerates the stress, shame, and hopelessness that fuel depression.
The Dopamine Factor
At its core, gambling hijacks your brain’s reward system in ways remarkably similar to drug addiction. Understanding this helps explain why “just stopping” isn’t simple, it’s a neurological issue, not a character flaw.
Every time you gamble, your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. But here’s what makes gambling particularly addictive: the unpredictability. Your brain releases even more dopamine when rewards are uncertain. The possibility of winning creates more excitement than guaranteed wins would.
Research published in Nature Neuroscience shows that gambling activates the same brain reward circuits as drugs of abuse. Brain imaging studies reveal that problem gamblers show decreased activation in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for impulse control and decision-making–while showing increased activation in reward centers when gambling or exposed to gambling cues.
Over time, repeated gambling changes your brain chemistry. You develop tolerance, needing to bet larger amounts or take bigger risks to get the same dopamine rush. Your brain’s natural dopamine production decreases, making normal activities feel less rewarding. You experience withdrawal symptoms–irritability, restlessness, anxiety–when you try to stop.
This neurological foundation of gambling addiction is why comprehensive treatment that may include medication management, alongside therapy often produces the best results. You’re not fighting against willpower alone, you’re working to reset brain chemistry that’s been fundamentally altered.
Colorado’s Growing Gambling Landscape
Colorado’s gambling environment has transformed dramatically in recent years, creating unique challenges for residents vulnerable to addiction.
When voters approved Proposition DD in 2019, Colorado joined the growing list of states legalizing sports betting. The law took effect in May 2020, and growth has been explosive. Colorado saw a 174% increase in wager growth from $2.3 billion in 2020 to over $6.3 billion in 2023, according to Colorado Politics. Those billions in bets have generated hundreds of millions in tax revenue, funding critical state water conservation projects and other programs.
But this rapid expansion comes with costs that don’t appear in tax revenue reports. Colorado Public Radio reported significant increases in calls to the state’s gambling helpline following sports betting legalization. Treatment providers across the Front Range, from Denver to Boulder to Westminster, have noted rising numbers of people seeking help for gambling problems.
Mobile betting has made gambling dangerously accessible. You can now place bets from your couch, your office, or even while sitting at your child’s soccer game. The apps are designed to be engaging, with push notifications about games, promotions for “risk-free” bets, and seamless integration with your bank account. Natural barriers that once limited problematic gambling–like having to physically travel to a casino or sportsbook–have vanished.
The constant availability creates what addiction specialists call “continuous gambling opportunity.” Unlike casino gambling that requires planning and travel, mobile sports betting fits into every moment of downtime. You can lose hundreds or thousands of dollars during a lunch break without anyone around you knowing.
Colorado has responded to these challenges by dedicating gaming tax revenue to problem gambling programs, education, and treatment. The state funds the Colorado Problem Gamblers Helpline, supports treatment providers, and requires gambling operators to display responsible gaming messages. Still, the resources available haven’t kept pace with the rapid expansion of gambling access.
If you’ve found your gambling increasing since mobile betting became available, you’re experiencing exactly what public health experts predicted. The convenience and accessibility that makes legal sports betting appealing also removes protective factors that previously helped people maintain control.
Who Can Help With Gambling Addiction in Colorado?
Several types of professionals can help with gambling addiction in Colorado, including therapists specializing in behavioral addictions, psychiatrists who can address co-occurring mental health conditions, and comprehensive mental health clinics like Axis Integrated Mental Health that offer integrated care. Specialized providers like Kindbridge focus exclusively on gambling disorders, while integrated clinics address gambling alongside depression, ADHD, and other mental health conditions.
Specialized Gambling Addiction Therapists
Kindbridge stands out as Colorado’s premier specialized gambling addiction therapy provider. Their team focuses exclusively on behavioral addictions, bringing deep expertise in the specific thought patterns, triggers, and recovery challenges unique to gambling disorder.
What makes specialized gambling therapy different? Kindbridge’s therapists understand the nuances of gambling addiction that general therapists might miss. They recognize the cognitive distortions specific to gambling, like the gambler’s fallacy (believing you’re “due” for a win) or illusion of control (thinking you have special insight into outcomes). They know how to address the shame and secrecy that often prevent people from seeking help or being honest in treatment.
Kindbridge offers evidence-based treatments proven effective for gambling addiction, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy adapted specifically for gambling disorder. Their approach helps you identify the thoughts that trigger gambling urges, develop healthier coping strategies for stress or negative emotions, and build practical skills for managing money and avoiding gambling situations.
The convenience of telehealth makes Kindbridge’s services accessible throughout Colorado, whether you’re in Denver, a mountain community, or anywhere in between. You can receive specialized gambling addiction therapy from home, eliminating barriers like travel time or concerns about being seen entering a treatment facility.
For many people, starting with specialized gambling therapy through Kindbridge provides the focused intervention needed to interrupt the gambling cycle and begin recovery.
Integrated Mental Health Clinics
While specialized gambling therapy addresses the addiction itself, many people benefit from a broader approach that treats gambling alongside co-occurring mental health conditions. This is where integrated mental health clinics like Axis Integrated Mental Health become essential partners in recovery.
Axis takes a comprehensive approach, recognizing that gambling addiction often coexists with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions. Our team includes therapists, psychiatrists, and specialists in innovative treatments, all working together to address your complete mental health picture.
Innovative Treatment Approaches
Colorado offers access to cutting-edge treatments that may benefit people struggling with gambling addiction, particularly when traditional approaches haven’t been fully effective.
Deep TMS (Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) represents an exciting frontier in addiction treatment. This non-invasive therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions involved in addiction and impulse control. The treatment activates or suppresses activity in targeted areas, potentially helping regulate the brain circuits disrupted by gambling addiction.
The sessions last about 20 minutes and require no anesthesia or recovery time. Research on Deep TMS for gambling addiction remains emerging, but early studies show promise, particularly for reducing cravings and improving impulse control. Some patients report that Deep TMS makes it easier to implement the behavioral strategies learned in therapy, as though the treatment creates neurological space for new patterns to take root.
Axis Integrated Mental Health offers Deep TMS in Denver, Boulder, Denver Tech Center, and Westminster in Colorado. Our board-certified and experienced clinicians can help you understand whether this innovative approach might complement your treatment plan.
Ketamine Therapy offers another innovative option, particularly when treatment-resistant depression drives gambling behavior. Ketamine-assisted therapy can provide rapid relief from severe depression, sometimes within hours rather than the weeks typical antidepressants require.
For people who gamble to escape depression, ketamine therapy can break the cycle by lifting mood quickly, creating an opportunity to engage more fully in therapy and implement behavioral changes. The treatment involves carefully controlled ketamine administration in a medical setting, combined with therapeutic support to process the experience and integrate insights into recovery.
These innovative treatments work best as part of comprehensive care that includes therapy and addresses the psychological, social, and practical dimensions of gambling addiction. They’re not magic bullets, but for some people, they provide the neurological shift needed to make recovery possible.
Free Gambling Addiction Resources & Helpline Numbers in Colorado
If you’re not ready for therapy yet, or if you need immediate support, Colorado offers several free resources.
Colorado Problem Gamblers Helpline: Call 1-800-522-4700. This confidential line provides support, referrals, and information 24/7. You can also text 1-800-522-4700 for help.
Colorado Crisis Services: If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call 988 or text “TALK” to 38255 for 24/7 support.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA): GA groups meet across Colorado. Meetings follow a 12-step model and offer peer support. Many people find GA helpful alongside professional treatment.
State-funded Treatment Programs: Colorado uses gaming tax revenue to fund problem gambling treatment programs. These may provide free or low-cost services for eligible residents.
Even if you’re not sure whether you qualify for free programs, calling the helpline can help you understand what options are available in your area.
What to Expect in Gambling Addiction Treatment
Many people delay treatment because they don’t know what it involves, or they fear judgment. In reality, gambling addiction treatment is practical, supportive, and focused on helping you regain control.
Assessment and Goal-Setting
Most treatment begins with an assessment to understand your gambling history, triggers, mental health symptoms, and the impact on your finances and relationships. Your provider will work with you to set goals, which might include stopping gambling entirely, reducing harm, repairing relationships, or addressing co-occurring depression or ADHD.
Evidence-Based Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches for gambling addiction. CBT helps you identify the thoughts that drive gambling urges and replace them with healthier, more realistic thinking. Therapy also teaches coping strategies for stress, boredom, anxiety, and other triggers that often lead to gambling.
Relapse Prevention
Recovery often includes planning for high-risk situations, such as major sports events, financial stress, or emotional triggers. Your provider can help you create a relapse prevention plan, develop new routines, and build accountability. Treatment may also include practical steps like blocking gambling apps, limiting access to money, or setting up financial safeguards with a trusted person.
Addressing Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
For many people, gambling is tied to mental health symptoms, like using betting to escape depression or seeking stimulation for ADHD. Integrated treatment addresses these conditions alongside gambling recovery, which improves long-term outcomes.
Insurance, Costs, and Payment Options
Cost should not be the reason you avoid getting help. Many insurance plans cover therapy for gambling disorder as a mental health condition. Coverage varies, but you may be able to access treatment with standard copays or coinsurance.
Axis Integrated Mental Health accepts most major insurance plans and offers options to help reduce financial barriers. Kindbridge also works with insurance and offers multiple payment options. If cost feels like the biggest obstacle, contacting a provider to discuss coverage and support options is often the best first step.
If financial stress from gambling is already overwhelming, you may also benefit from financial counseling or credit support as part of recovery. Treatment providers can often help connect you with resources.
Finding the Right Colorado Gambling Clinic for Your Needs
With multiple gambling addiction treatment options available across Colorado, choosing the right fit for your needs matters. Several factors can guide your decision.
Location and Accessibility
Convenient access to treatment increases the likelihood you’ll attend consistently, especially during early recovery when motivation may fluctuate.
Consider your schedule and transportation options. If commuting during work hours is difficult, evening appointments or locations near your home may be essential. If transportation is limited, proximity to public transit or the availability of telehealth becomes important.
Our premier partner Kindbridge’s telehealth model serves the entire state, providing access to specialized gambling addiction therapy regardless of where you live. Telehealth eliminates travel time, offers scheduling flexibility, and provides privacy if you’re concerned about being seen entering a mental health facility.
Specialized Expertise vs. Integrated Care
Understanding when to choose specialized gambling treatment versus integrated mental health care helps you get the right support.
Specialized gambling clinics like Kindbridge offer deep expertise in gambling disorders specifically. Their therapists understand every nuance of gambling addiction–the cognitive distortions, the relapse triggers, the financial recovery process, the family dynamics. If gambling is your primary concern and you don’t have significant co-occurring mental health conditions, specialized care provides focused, expert treatment.
Integrated mental health clinics like Axis can partner with therapy clinics like Kindbridge when gambling addiction coexists with other mental health conditions. If you’re dealing with depression that drives gambling, ADHD that impairs impulse control, anxiety you’re medicating with gambling excitement, or any combination of mental health challenges, integrated care treats everything simultaneously.
The most powerful approach for many people combines both: specialized gambling therapy through Kindbridge plus comprehensive mental health support through Axis. This collaborative model ensures you receive expert gambling treatment while addressing underlying or co-occurring mental health conditions. Our partnership with Kindbridge makes this coordinated care seamless.
Taking the First Step: How to Get Help Today
You’ve read this far, which means you’re seriously considering getting help for gambling addiction, either for yourself or someone you love. That awareness and willingness to explore options represents courage.
Now comes the next step: actually reaching out.
Here’s how to get started based on your situation:
If you’re in crisis: if you’re having thoughts of suicide, have harmed yourself, or are in immediate danger, call Colorado Crisis Services at 988 or text “TALK” to 38255. This free, confidential service connects you with trained counselors 24/7 who can provide immediate support and help you stay safe.
For specialized gambling addiction therapy: contact Kindbridge to schedule an assessment with a therapist specializing in gambling disorder. Their telehealth model means you can access expert care from anywhere in Colorado, often within days of making contact.
For integrated mental health care: Contact Axis Integrated Mental Health at our Denver, Aurora, Boulder, or Westminster location to schedule a comprehensive mental health assessment.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before making contact. You don’t need to know exactly what treatment you need or whether you qualify. You don’t even have to be certain you’re ready to stop gambling forever. You just need to make the call or send the email.
Recovery is possible. Thousands of people in Colorado have successfully overcome gambling addiction, rebuilt their lives, repaired relationships, and found new sources of meaning and joy. You can join them. Help is available, and it starts with a single phone call or email.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Gambling Addiction
How do I know if gambling has become a problem for me?
Gambling becomes a problem when it interferes with your daily life, relationships, or financial stability. Warning signs include betting more than you can afford, feeling unable to stop despite wanting to, lying about gambling activities, and using gambling to escape problems or negative feelings. If you’ve tried to cut back but can’t, or if loved ones have expressed concern, these are red flags worth discussing with a mental health professional.
What types of therapy work best for gambling addiction in Colorado?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for gambling addiction treatment, helping you identify and change the thought patterns that drive gambling behavior. Other effective approaches include Motivational Interviewing, which builds your internal motivation to change, and family therapy to repair relationships damaged by gambling. In Colorado, specialized providers like Kindbridge offer evidence-based gambling addiction therapy, while integrated clinics like Axis treat co-occurring conditions like depression and ADHD that often accompany gambling problems. The most effective treatment often combines specialized gambling therapy with comprehensive mental health support.
Can I get treatment for gambling addiction if I also have depression or ADHD?
Absolutely, in fact, treating co-occurring mental health conditions is essential for gambling addiction recovery. Many people with gambling problems also struggle with depression, ADHD, anxiety, or impulse control disorders. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we provide integrated care through our premier partner program that addresses gambling addiction alongside other mental health conditions through a combination of therapy, medication management, and innovative treatments like Deep TMS. Our partnership with specialized providers like Kindbridge ensures you receive expert gambling-specific therapy while we manage your overall mental health. Treating everything together produces better long-term outcomes than addressing conditions separately.
How much does gambling addiction treatment cost in Colorado?
Gambling addiction treatment costs vary based on the type and intensity of services you need. Many insurance plans now cover gambling disorder treatment as a mental health condition, significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Colorado also offers state-funded treatment programs paid for by gaming tax revenues, making free or low-cost treatment available to residents. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we accept most major insurance plans and offer sliding scale fees and payment plans to ensure financial barriers don’t prevent you from getting help. Our partner Kindbridge also works with insurance and offers various payment options. Contact us to discuss your specific financial situation and available options. Check insurance and payment information at axismh.com.
What should I do if a family member has a gambling problem but won’t get help?
Supporting a loved one with a gambling addiction is challenging, especially when they’re resistant to treatment. Start with a compassionate, non-confrontational conversation expressing concern about specific behaviors you’ve observed rather than labeling them as an “addict.” Educate yourself about gambling addiction so you can approach the situation with understanding. Consider attending therapy yourself or joining a support group for families affected by gambling–Axis Integrated Mental Health offers family therapy and can help you navigate this difficult situation. You can also contact Kindbridge or Colorado’s Problem Gamblers Helpline (1-800-522-4700) for guidance on intervention strategies. Remember, you can’t force someone to change, but you can create conditions that make seeking help more appealing.
