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>It’s clear that the prospect of winning money isn’t the primary motivation for most problem gamblers

It's been measured that the dopamine rush for gamblers comes when they place a bet, not when they win.

This excerpt from a memoir by Norm Macdonald provides insight into this mindset:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0V-C5yr5sg

Which anecdotally is what I've noted playing poker against phenomenal losers (and also in a few poker blogs) - it's all about the moment where their "life" hangs in the balance and the final cards haven't been dealt yet. The results don't matter, wins are celebrated just because they allow to play longer.

Interesting. Do you know whether this is true for all gamblers? Or only for problem gamblers? If it’s true of everyone then I wonder what the difference is between people who can walk away and those who feel compelled to keep playing.

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