Is behavioral addiction a way of thinking, or a symptom of depression?

Is behavioral addiction a way of thinking, or a symptom of depression?

Marc Kern (Addiction Expert, Director of Addiction Alternatives) gives expert video advice on: How big of a problem is gambling addiction?; What causes addictive gambling?; When addicted gamblers are losing, do they actually believe they'll win? and more...

Addiction is both and more. I think addiction is both an expression of certain beliefs, attitudes, and values that you grow up with. I also see addiction as a means of mitigating certain emptinesses that we have inside; loneliness, and boredom's a big one in addictions to video games and sex addictions, and things like that. There are few healthy ways of satiating, working with those addictions. So yes, it's both a filler-upper, and a form of ways of looking at things. Very important though, is was there a big expositive experience early on with that particular addiction? Is there an inner sensation of competence, of being powerful in the early involvement with that particular activity?