Gambling is itself a behavior that defies logic as the knowledge that losses far exceed wins is the basis for the industry. Yet gambling is not only prevalent but growing. There may be deep emotional causes of gambling but the motivational causes specifically intrinsic to gambling behavior are being studied from many different viewpoints to find ways in which to intervene in the addictive process as it pertains to gambling as distinct from other addictive behaviors. Different theories are looked at to understand this complex topic.