Mindfulness-based interventions for gambling disorder: A systematic review.
Journal of behavioral addictions February 3, 2026 Atanas Tannous, Zsolt Demetrovics, Bhavya Chhabra et al.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) consistently reduce gambling frequency and cravings while improving psychological outcomes. When combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, MBIs produce significant declines in problem gambling behavior. Psychological distress and cravings also decrease notably across different intervention types. However, it remains unclear how much of these effects come from mindfulness-specific mechanisms. The evidence comes from 12 studies, including five randomized controlled trials, but small sample sizes and methodological limitations mean more robust research is needed.