It’s the chance to erase all losses with a single win. “Double or Nothing,” a term that many gamblers, both rookies and veterans, are familiar with. Winning a high-stakes game can elevate one’s social position. It seems our brains are wired to reward risk.
The Dopamine Hit: When we tested various gamblers, a surge of dopamine, the pleasure neurotransmitter, was consistent among them.The ones who took the risk often prospered and passed on their genes. It was either fight or flight for our predecessors when they faced a mammoth or a saber-tooth tiger.
