Wager Danger

Rob ODAAT (one day at a time) Minnick is a social media influencer who is reaching a wide audience with his unique gambling content. His personal experience of recovery from gambling addiction allows him to uniquely impact those who view his content. Rob's content reaches millions of viewers and he routinely receives messages from individuals seeking help with a gambling addiction. His work is bei...

After years of working the Gamblers Anonymous (GA) program, it was "tough love" from his family and some frank advice from a GA veteran (and mentor) that compelled Jimmy to fully commit to his recovery.  In this episode Jimmy shares his personal story of gambling disorder and his extraordinary journey towards recovery.  wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org Gateway Foundation Gambling Treatment  Call...

It's a trick question.  The answer is ALWAYS!  But sadly, not everyone sees it that way.  Jody Bechtold joins the show to discuss how various generations respond to the proliferation of gambling access in the US.  Jody's experience and expertise in gambling disorder treatment is well respected and she is recognized internationally as one of the leading experts on gambling addiction.  We are thrill...

In recognition of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Wager Danger travelled to Waukegan to attend and capture highlights from Dr. Adell's personal story "Confessions of a Slot Machine Queen."  A jointly sponsored event between Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization (NIRCO) and Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Mary Robison at NIRCO and Elizabeth Thielan at Nicasa also join...

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...

"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 w...

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...

"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 g...

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...

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 o...

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...

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 discus...

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 foc...

Emily Bernard is an addictions counselor at Hour House.  Recognizing that recovery and change happens "one hour at a time", Hour House offers treatment services to address substance use & gambling disorders, co-occurring dependency & other therapy needs. Emily shares her passion for her work and why a focus on the individual is important to affect lasting change for their clients.   More about Hou...

TASC serves those in need of substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, gambling disorders or family health and reunification challenges.   Tanya Bibbs-Smith talks about her outreach efforts across IL to reach youth and adolescents that are exposed to gaming and gambling at an early age. She's helping this demographic understand the connection between their actions and how it...

Located in Central Illinois, Heritage provides comprehensive community-based services to treat the most serious behavioral disorders. Teagan Shull joins the show to discuss how Heritage places an emphasis on screening for Gambling Disorder and how Heritage responds to the increase in identifying and serving gambling disorders within the communities they serve. More can be found at: https://heritag...

Gambling disorder service providers sit down with Wager Danger to discuss their approach to community outreach and treatment for problem gambling. We explore topics that include:   The intense shame that sometimes prevents men from seeking assistance with problem gambling, and the resulting observation that women are more likely to complete the program.   How young people are at increased risk to...

The state of Illinois recently launched a new advertising campaign aimed at creating awareness for problem gambling.  We sat down with John Harris, President of a5 digital consultancy to better understand the meaning behind the campaign.  While the campaign is designed to create awareness and encourage those with gambling issues to seek assistance, what we ultimately learned is that "Are You Reall...

Sandra is a compassionate mental health advocate that brings passion, experience and empathy to her profession.  She has spent several years in the field as a proponent for providing disordered gambling services and eliminating the stigma often associated with problem gambling.  Engage with Wager Danger.  Please feel free to email us at: wagerdanger@gatewayfoundation.org References: https://gatewa...

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...

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 Ser...

*** 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.   Jo...

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 G...