Casino gambling increases heart rate and salivary cortisol in regular gamblers

Background: Although the effects of gambling on cardiovascular-parameters h ave been documented, no data exists describing the effect of gambling on st ress hormone secretion. Our study investigated the effect of gambling on he art rate and salivary cortisol in a casino environment. Methods: Ten male gamblers participated in both an experimental and control session. In the experimental session, gamblers played a game of blackjack using their own money. Gamblers played cards in the same setting during the control condition; however, the game was played for accumulation of points rather than money. Heart rate and endocrine parameters were recorded at ba seline, 30 min, and 60 min following commencement of each session, and agai n at completion of the game. Results: Heart rate increased significantly fr-om baseline to 30 min in the experimental session and remained elevated for the remainder of the record ing period Salivary cortisol was raised at 30 min and further elevated at 6 0 min during gambling, then returned to control levels following completion of the game. Conclusions: These data indicate that gambling in a "real life" situation p roduces increases in salivary cortisol levels that accompany increased card iovascular activity. Such effects may contribute to the development of gamb ling addiction. (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry.