THE truth about gambling will be revealed at Wrexham Science Festival next week.

Dr Mark Griffiths, Europe's only Professor of Gambling Studies, will explain his theory on what makes gamblers play for high stakes.

German research recently suggested gamblers were like drug addicts, as neither seemed to be able to maintain enough of the 'happy chemical', dopamine, in their brains during everyday activity and need excess stimuli just to feel normal.

Dr Griffiths disputes this, claiming it is too simplistic an explanation.

On Wednesday, March 16, he will explain why he believes society plays a greater role in creating the urge to gamble.

'We must also consider the design of gambling activities and how they attract people,' he said.

'A slot machine is more problematic to a gambler than a weekly lottery ticket. My work is just one more piece of a jigsaw which is giving gambling legitimacy as an addiction. We still have a long way to go before we understand it fully however.'