Wager Danger

Like many parents, Kim didn't know about her teenage son's gambling until it was almost too late. What began with buying video game skins in grammar school escalated to offshore casinos and crypto markets by the time he reached college. Out of that experience, she co-founded Parents Standing Together, a nonprofit supporting parents whose children are caught in the grip of problem gambling. Parents...

Saul Malik's real college education had nothing to do with his major. A fantasy league at eleven years old turned into bookies and $25,000 in debt by twenty-one. Now in long-term recovery,   he's sharing his story by traveling the country and warning young people before they're in too deep. Connect with Saul Malek: SaulMalek.com Saul Malek on LinkedIn Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gateway...

Gambling got its hooks into Adam Lyons early. At nine years old, his uncle taught him how to play craps, and something clicked that never really switched off. By the time the poker boom hit, Adam had dropped out of college and was dealing cards in poker rooms from Connecticut to Las Vegas. He was good at the job, great with people, and one of the most charismatic guys in the room. What nobody knew...

As an amateur female boxer, Elizabeth was on a trajectory toward Olympic and professional status in her sport.  A career-ending injury sent her on a search for something to replace the adrenaline jolt she missed from boxing. In this episode we learn how poker became her new obsession and how she eventually recognized it was an unsustainable pursuit. Contact Elizabeth: ethielen@nicasa.org Elizabeth...

There's no holds barred in this episode as George shares the nitty gritty about his toxic relationship with gambling and the moment his life abruptly changed. Listen along as George shares his journey from compulsive gambling to the moment his recovery began and his faith regained control. George's Email: gfathanasiou@gmail.com Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway F...

The convergence of online gambling platforms and prediction markets is blurring the lines of what is considered "traditional gambling".  Join Phd candidate and sociologist Ryan Fajardo and Shane as they explore and discuss how these platforms have the potential to disrupt our definition of gambling. Ryan Fajardo, Northwestern University ryanfajardo.com Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatewa...

Sam DeMello turned his pain into purpose. He's pioneering gambling harm reduction through Evive, a digital therapeutic app he created to help beat the odds of gambling addiction. You can download Evive for free on the iOS or Google Play App stores, or learn more at getevive.com   Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment Call Gateway Foundat...

This episode of Wager Danger takes a look back at some interesting moments from all of the very important conversations we have had over the last 12 months.   Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment Call Gateway Foundation: 844-975-3663 Follow Gateway Foundation: Facebook: @RecoverGateway LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation Gambling Problem? Cal...

Navigating the impact of sports wagering among College students and athletes is a bit tricky these days. Jeremy Dixon and Guy Caprio join Wager Danger to share firsthand how the expansion of legalized gambling affects the interactions among the students, athletes, and the fanbase at Loyola University. Email Guy: gcaprio@luc.edu   Engage with Wager Danger: wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway...

TRIGGER WARNING:  This content discusses suicide, suicide attempts and related topics.  Please proceed with caution.  If you are struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. November is Veterans and Military Family appreciation month, so we're having an in-depth conversation with Dr. Shane Kraus, associate professor at UNLV, about his research on gambling disord...

Through his own journey, Jon-Pierre Miccuci developed a passion for contributing to the field of gambling recovery and is keenly focused on the gaps he noticed that often leave people struggling with this hidden addiction.  From losing everything to becoming an innovative voice in gambling prevention, John Pierre brings his passion and perspective to a campaign called "The Fix," a communication st...

Keith joins Wager Danger to discuss the massive increase in both awareness and programs he has witnessed during his 30 years advocating for responsible gambling and preventing gambling addiction. Keith advises a global network of gaming providers, behavioral health practitioners, national, state and tribal government officials, and adjunct industries about gambling's impact on communities and indi...

We should be protecting healthy brain development in our youth and young adults, yet the devices in kids' pockets are impairing that growth. The brain doesn't reach maturity until somewhere in the mid-to-late twenties, and many youths today are harming their brain development through risky behavior.  Dr. Crystal Collier joins the show today to discuss the fascinating world of  KnowYourNeuro.org  a...

Michael Goldman has spent 40+ years working with individuals struggling with addictions.  In this episode, he shares some common themes that emerge and suggests some probing questions that counselors can use to identify co-occurring disorders and/or the potential for spotting transfer addictions. Trigger Warning: Domestic violence and suicide are recurring topics in this episode.  If you are exper...

During the past 3 years, Dr. Grubbs and his research team at the University of New Mexico have verified that increased sports betting has a direct correlation to increased alcohol consumption.  And furthermore, the tendency is for those who imbibe more frequently, their betting behavior becomes riskier.  Listen in as Dr. Grubbs and Shane discuss a wide range of sports gambling topics and dive furt...

In this episode, we step outside the studio to attend and speak with guests attending a resource fair during problem gambling awareness month. Hosted by Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) and co-sponsored by Gateway Foundation, the event space was filled with energy and engaging conversations about gambling addiction and the power of recovery.    Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) –   hascares...

March marks Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we coordinated a panel discussion with three remarkable leaders who are shaping how Illinois responds to problem gambling. We're joined by Anita Pindiur, executive director of The Way Back Inn, Heather Martinez from the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, and Emma Bowen from Chestnut Health Systems. We'll explore why March has become such a pivot...

Description:    From Midwest Book Review   – Relatively few novels cover gambling addiction, in comparison to other forms of addiction, already making Shep and the King of Hearts notable…. Join Stacy and Shane as they discuss the motivations and underlying themes for her debut book. Order the Book:   Shep and the King of Hearts - Amazon Social Media Links: Website:   https://www.stacyladyman.com F...

Dr. Michelle Malkin, Director of the East Carolina University Gambling Research & Policy Initiative joins the show to discuss the significant impact of legalized gambling in the US.  From gambling motivated crime to the prevalence of gambling on college campuses, to the surprising impact of gambling on LGBTQ+ communities, Dr. Malkin walks us through a fascinating peek at the impact gambling is hav...

On this episode we take a look back on many interesting moments from the important conversations we've have over the last 12 months. Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment Call Gateway Foundation: 844-975-3663 (DONE)   Follow Gateway Foundation: Facebook: @RecoverGateway LinkedIn: @Gateway-Foundation Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER T...

John Harris returns to the show and provides an update on the 'Are You Really Winning' awareness campaign for problem gambling.  Whether you're curious about how gambling awareness is evolving or interested in the innovative ways this program is reaching communities, you won't want to miss this inside look at Illinois' groundbreaking prevention efforts. Engage with Wager Danger:  wagerdanger@gatew...

Adolescent and young adults are gaming and gambling at a much higher rate than people tend to believe. The Minnesota Student Survey offers a rich data set from 8 th , 9 th  and 11 th grade students across the state and has been collecting data since the early 1990's. Recently, gambling data has been part of the ongoing study and is providing practitioners with some interesting information.  Serena...

Most of us, at some point in our lives, will struggle. The fortunate will find redemption, fewer will experience transformation.  Dan Trolaro's story embodies what it means to transform and to grow.  Listen how Dan's lived experience fuels his passion to educate NCAA collegiate athletes and youth in general.  He's on a mission to expose the potential dangers and pitfalls associated with gambling a...

"It's my hope that we can erase the stigma and shame so women will feel safe seeking the help they need without fear of judgement" - Broke Girl Society founder, Christina Cook.  The BGS offers a "judgement free zone" for women in recovery from problem gambling.  Christina recognized early in her own journey that what she craved most was deep connections with other women who had walked a similar pa...

Researchers at the International Gaming Institute on the campus of UNLV are diving deep into the effects of gambling on public health. Whether studying banking habits alongside gambling activity or creating chatbots to assist and educate users about responsible gaming, AI and machine learning is being utilized to develop guardrails that support responsible gaming. In this episode, Dr. Kasra Ghahar...