A Seasoned Mental Health Practitioner’s Perspective | Sandra Beecher

Dave Wohl has some big shoes to fill. As ICPG’s new Executive Director, Dave talks about taking over from ICPG’s founder, Bill Johnson, and how they are teaming up with other organizations across the state to spread the word on gambling disorder, and its effects on many underserved communities.

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org 

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

Illinois Council on Problem Gambling

info@illinoisproblemgambling.org 

dwohl@illinoisproblemgambling.org

Call Gateway Foundation: 855-723-0963

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Are you Really Winning?

“Helping people feel good about their finances is an important part of feeling better overall.” – Alex DeMarco. 

GamFin is an organization that connects gambling disorder counselors with expert financial counselors to help restore the financial health for individuals struggling with problem gambling. Alex DeMarco tells us how the process works and why it is beneficial for financial and emotional well-being.

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org 

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

Call Gateway Foundation: 855-723-0963

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Are you Really Winning?

GamFin Website

support@gamfin.org

This episode takes a look back at some interesting moments from very important conversations we have had over the last 12 months.

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org,

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter/X: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

“Not a Chance” teaches High Schoolers how to make thoughtful decisions.  Enhancing the protective factors that lead to improved self-awareness and better decision making is the primary goal…problem gambling prevention provides the context.  Utilizing an interactive approach, the lessons allow students to understand their personal boundaries more clearly and develop the confidence to adhere to them.  Alison Donoho and Emma Bowen from Chestnut Health Systems join Wager Danger to discuss how Not a Chance is improving the behavioral health of today’s youth.

Website for Chestnut: www.chestnut.org

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org,

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

“Sports gambling itself is not inherently risky but sports gamblers are!”

Dr. Grubbs and his students at University of New Mexico are conducting research on the gambling habits of sports bettors and the results may surprise you. Their research has gathered data that show why sports bettors are more likely to engage in more forms of wagering, and why that behavior is a strong predictor that these gamblers are statistically more likely to develop a gambling addiction.

Joshua Grubbs PhD Website

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

Teens from across the Chicagoland area are finding exciting and creative ways to spread the message of gambling’s potential harm to a vulnerable population.  Tapping into their unique talents and skills, these teens are having a major impact among their peers and gaining life changing experiences in the process.

Nicasa Problem Gambling and Sports Betting Services

Nicasa Behavioral Health Services Teen Problem Prevention Creative Group

Music Track: Make Things Right by Alishaa Bell

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org,

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

After initial recovery and relapse, a subsequent recovery leads Dave to live each day OUT LOUD as he shares his incredible story of hope with others. 

Recovery advocate, podcaster, husband and father Dave Yeager shares a deeply personal story of his recovery journey after developing a gambling addiction while serving as a non-commissioned officer in the US Army. Dave talks about the progression of his gambling addiction, fueled by an early win, as it spiraled into daily gambling, borrowing money from subordinates, lying and eventually stealing from his unit in order to satiate his gambling need. Ultimately, it’s his fortitude and character that shines bright in his endeavor to share his recovery with others. 

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org,

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

Book is available on Amazon: Fall In: A Veteran with a Gambling Addiction

Contact Dave at: Fallinpodcast@gmail.com

Fall in Podcast

Fall In Podcast on Spotify

Chris Ward, outreach coordinator at The Way Back Inn, discusses a youth and young adult-oriented curriculum called Stacked Deck. Younger generations are growing up with simulated gambling embedded in video games. The Stacked Deck educational offering is intended to identify the potential harms present in video gaming products and how youth and adolescents can begin to recognize when they are being manipulated into gambling simulation.

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org

Facebook: @Gateway

Twitter: @Gateway

LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation

844-975-3663 (DONE)

The Way Back Inn – www.waybackinn.org

Chris Ward: chrisw@waybackinn.org wbi@waybackinn.org

Are You Really Winning – areyoureallywinning.com 

1-800-GAMBLER

Tanya shares a personal story of growing up in an active gambling community and draws parallels to how that environment played a role in her development as a mental health professional.  We discuss her childhood growing up in Chicago during a time when active gambling houses were common within the community and provided a social outlet for family and friends.  Throughout our conversation we discuss how gambling as a group activity has evolved into a more individual (and potentially more easily hidden) model that is available to today’s gambler.

TASC – Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

Call Gateway Foundation: 855-723-0963

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Are you Really Winning?

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org

Dr. Nathan Smith is the founding Executive Director of Kindbridge Research Institute, a nationally recognized scientist and science communicator, and a leader in the field of behavioral addiction research and theory. 

In this episode we discuss the importance of understanding how gambling addiction effects various segments of the US population and how the Kindbridge Research Institute is laser focused on supporting our Military Veterans.  Nate’s passion for the study of gambling addiction really shines throughout the episode including: the importance of epidemiology and how it allows us to “get it right” and how the terminology we use to describe a gambling addiction needs clarification.  We’re fortunate to have an advocate like Nate who is championing the study of gambling disorders.

Kindbridge Research Institute

Why Military Personnel are 3.5x More Prone to Problem Gambling

The Military Treatment Fund

DraftKings and Kindbridge Research Fund

About Kindbridge Research Institute

Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment

Call Gateway Foundation: 855-723-0963

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Are you Really Winning?

wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.com