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Valentine’s Day Article
How Romance and Risk Ignite the Brain
by Ian Sherrington, February 2025
As part of the series – The Online Gambling Industry
It’s Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air. Everyone needs love, that much is clear. But, I ask myself, what drives a gambler to keep playing? They risk their hard-earned cash even though they know the odds are stacked against them.
Could it be that the gambler experiences emotions similar to those of romance?
Wikipedia: Patrick J. Lynch
The Brain’s Reward System
Humans are good at figuring things out. However, we also have built-in requirements that our brain understands even if we don’t. To reinforce behaviours essential for survival (like eating and social bonding) and activities that feel pleasurable (such as love, gambling, and, unsurprisingly, drug use), the brain relies on a reward system.
When engaged in pleasurable activities, the brain rewards the body by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel good. It also motivates us to seek out these experiences again. The brain stores memories of pleasure and even subconsciously strategizes how to repeat the experience.
Sneaky, right?
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Romance Is Life
Romance fulfils our fundamental need to connect with others. Falling in love floods the brain with dopamine, creating that euphoric rush we all recognise. Early-stage romance often induces a kind of madness—a state where life feels suspended, focused on one thing: the person we love.
Of course, romances usually come to an end one way or another, but while they last, they’re unforgettable – at least.
In the brain of a gambling addict, winning and waiting to see if you’ve won are pretty much the same
The Rush of Risk
Gambling induces a similar range of euphoric states. At first, there’s the anticipation—the moment before the outcome is known. It’s like Schrödinger’s Cat: Is it dead or alive? You don’t know whether you’ve won or lost. That moment of suspense is oddly satisfying, where anything still feels possible.
Then, when the result is revealed, it’s either celebration or disappointment. Either way, the emotional highs and lows are deeply engaging, reinforcing the desire to play again.
And talking of Schrödinger’s Cat,. Before the box is opened, the cat is in a state of “blurred possibilities, half one thing, half the other”.
It has a dual state and this leads on to the quantum phenomenon of Superposition. Check out the video for a more qualified explanation.
They’re working on it…
Research Findings
Research shows that both romantic love and gambling activate similar neural pathways in the brain’s reward system. This overlap primarily involves the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, which plays a crucial role in processing pleasure and reinforcement.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that pathological gambling is linked to reduced activation of the mesolimbic reward system. This suggests that compulsive gamblers process rewards differently, in ways that resemble substance addiction. Research Link
Similarly, research on romantic love has shown that feelings of love activate the brain’s reward circuitry, including regions such as the ventral tegmental area and the caudate nucleus. These areas, rich in dopamine receptors, are associated with pleasure and motivation. Research Link
These findings suggest that both romantic love and gambling engage the brain’s reward system, highlighting the neural overlap in how different experiences can activate similar pleasure-related pathways.
Giacomo Casanova. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Casanova: The Romantic Risk-Taker
Looking back into history, possibly the most famous lover and also gambler was Casanova. He was a bit of a lad to say the least . Casanova was an 18th-century Venetian adventurer, writer, and notorious seducer. His name has become synonymous with romance, but he was also a gambler who lived life on the edge—both in love and at the gaming table.
Casanova frequently gambled at games like faro, biribi, and the lottery. He saw gambling as a way to win fortune and social status, though he often lost as much as he gained. Like many gamblers, he was drawn to the thrill of risk, believing that fortune favoured the bold.
The game of Faro is fascinating. New to me and possibly you too. Please check the video for an explanation of the game of Faro. I’m thinking a blockchain version… 🙂
Casanova’s Memoirs
The publication of his detailed memoirs was a whole story unto itself – the uncensored version only came to light in 1960. It’s a fascinating read and is available here
His memoirs detail his countless love affairs across Europe. He was a master of seduction, combining charm, wit, and strategic thinking—skills that also served him well at the gambling table. For Casanova, both love and gambling were about excitement, conquest, and the rush of the unknown.
One notable event was Casanova’s involvement with France’s first state lottery in Paris. The story goes that France, under King Louis XV, was struggling with national debt and needed new sources of revenue.
Casanova, always quick to spot an opportunity, partnered with Jean-Joseph de Laborde, a prominent financier, to propose a state-run lottery as a means of generating funds for the government.
The Paris Lottery was similar to modern lotteries, where people bought tickets with a chance to win large cash prizes. A portion of the proceeds went to the state treasury, making it a financially attractive system for the government.Casanova helped organize and promote the lottery, ensuring its success.
However, ever the opportunist, Casanova didn’t just run the lottery—he played it, too. He used his knowledge of the system to identify favorable odds, bought large numbers of tickets, and won several substantial prizes. This success gave him financial security for a time, allowing him to live lavishly in Paris.
Legacy of the Paris Lottery
However, as with most of his ventures, Casanova’s fortune didn’t last. He later lost much of his wealth due to failed investments and reckless spending.
The Paris Lottery became a model for future European lotteries, proving that state-run gambling could be both profitable and popular.
Casanova’s involvement highlights his versatility—he wasn’t just a gambler, but a savvy businessman and strategist.
Love is a gamble
Conclusion
Love and gambling share an undeniable thrill, an intoxicating mix of anticipation, reward, and emotional intensity. Both experiences ignite the same neural circuits, activating the brain’s reward system to drive desire, excitement, and the pursuit of fulfillment.
Yet, at their core, both remind us that life is about taking chances—on people, on possibilities, and on the hope of something extraordinary. Whether you’re wagering your heart or rolling the dice, embrace the moment—because the greatest rewards only come when we dare to take a chance.
Especially to my wonderful wife, Happy Valentine’s Day!
