Another out-of-studio episode in which we gather with former guests and new friends to review the first conference in Illinois aimed at understanding the prevalence and impact of problem gambling in the LatinX community.  We were joined by 7 mental health professionals throughout the show to discuss everything from:

-         How the similarity of OCD and gambling disorder affects the brain (03:08)

-         That nearly 1.1 million residents of IL are suffering from disordered gambling or are at high risk to developing a gambling disorder (10:40)

-         What it means to “Feed the Pig” (26:10)

-         Understanding that the propensity to gamble has so much power over the brain that you can literally teach a rat to gamble (28:40)

 

Guests joining the program (in order) include: Dr. Teresa Garate, Jim Wilkerson, Calvin Miller, Elizabeth Thielan, Dr. Celeste Napier, Dr. Mauricio Cifuentes and Bill Johnson.

 

Gateway Foundation’s Gambling Helpline 1-844-375-DONE (3663)

Gateway Foundation website: https://www.gatewayfoundation.org

Illinois Department of Human Services / Substance Use Prevention and Recovery – Are You Really Winning website – https://areyoureallywinning.com

Illinois Helpline for Problem Gambling – 1-800-GAMBLER

Dr. Mauricio Cifuentes, Clinical Director at Cicero Family Service, discusses the importance of intentionally based programs that incorporate cultural humility to reach the LatinX community.  Highlights include:

• How religion and beliefs plays a critical role

• Intentionally designed outreach programs are key to effectively communicating the potential harm of gambling; and

• How Cicero Family Service leads by creating holistic programs that create awareness, educate and serve their community.

 

Family Service Mental Health Center of Cicero (aka, Cicero Family Service) - https://www.cicerofs.org/

 

Gateway Foundation - https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/

*** Trigger warning *** Gambling, the wagering process, “bad beats”, big wins, etc are all discussed in this episode.  Please listen with caution if these topics are potentially triggering. 

Suicide contemplation is also mentioned in this episode.  If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.

 

Joel Soper joins the show to discuss the motivation behind writing a person account of his struggles with gambling.  We learn how Joel first got started betting at an early age, what he hopes to accomplish by sharing his story, the uniqueness of sports betting and why he believes it has mass appeal to a wide audience.  Joel is candid about his recovery journey and realizes it is a “work in progress” that requires vigilance each day.

https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/mental-health/process-addictions/gambling-addiction/

Taking the show to the streets for candid interviews with Cubs and White Sox fans about gambling. Many shared thoughts, opinions and personal accounts. 

 

https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/mental-health/process-addictions/gambling-addiction/

Bob and Shane review content from previous shows and discuss Wager Danger’s role in creating an awareness of problem gambling for the listener.* 

*the topic of suicide is discussed in this episode.  If you or a loved one is struggling or in crisis, help is available.  Call or text 988 to speak with a counselor – available 24/7.

Gateway Foundation

2021 Statewide Assessment of Gambling and Problem Gambling in Illinois

Ask a gambler their winning percentage and you’ll probably get a response that’s not true. Elizabeth Thielen, the Gambling Program Director of NICASA Behavioral Health Services joins the show to discuss how unlikely partnerships (e.g., NFL Foundation, NCAA, FanDuel, National Council on Problem Gambling and Behavioral Health Providers) are banding together to create awareness campaigns to ensure gamblers participate mindfully and are cognizant of potential risks when gambling, and why “having a plan” is a key strategy to gambling responsibly and approaching gambling as a means of entertainment.

We also talk about awareness programs that are targeted at youth populations and explore why college and professional athletes are potentially at higher risk to problem gambling behaviors.

Additional resources for further information discussed in this episode:

• In-play betting as it relates to disordered gambling severity: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.574884/full
• Rate of disordered gambling among sports bettors higher than other gamblers; perception of control in sports bettors, etc.: https://www.ncpgambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sports-gambling_NCPGLitRvw.pdf
• An article about athletes' concerns with how they are treated as a result of sports betting: https://www.si.com/betting/2021/08/09/gambling-issue-the-athletes
• A blog about athletes and problem gambling www.fightproblemgambling.com

Gambling in Illinois continues to grow!  More casinos are being built, video gaming terminals seem to be available on every corner and legalized sports betting is available through mobile devices. What can we do to better equip mental health professionals to recognize and respond to individuals that are experiencing problems related to gambling?  Bill Johnson, the Executive Director of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) joins the show to discuss how ICPG plays a role in educating counseling professionals across the state AND how the ICPG is uniquely positioned to increase the public’s awareness of problem gambling.

*This episode discusses the link between Gambling Disorder and increased risks of suicide.  If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide or self-harm, immediately call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The road to recovery from problem gambling is a lifelong process.  Clinical Supervisor Melissa “Missy” Coffey discusses problem identifiers, insights and coping strategies for individuals that identify as problem gamblers.

What are the unique risk factors that parents, teachers and family members can recognize when interacting with teens and young adults?  Our panel of experts discusses and offer solutions that assist in limiting or preventing gaming and gambling harm to a vulnerable demographic.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/11/my-son-would-be-shaking-trying-not-to-go-online-how-the-gambling-industry-got-its-claws-into-kids