Webinar | Behind the Bet: Addressing Gambling and Mental Health Among Young Men

Webinar details

When: Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 11:00–12:00 PM MT
Where: Zoom

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About the webinar

Young men are coming of age in a landscape marked by financial instability, academic and career uncertainty, and constant exposure to digital platforms that reward risk and instant gratification. As sports betting and online gambling become more normalized, gambling-related harm can become intertwined with the broader pressures facing boys and men—not only as a financial issue, but also as a signal of stress, disconnection, and unmet mental health needs.

This webinar will bring together Jonathan Cohen of the American Institute for Boys and Men, and Dr. Tim Fong of UCLA’s Gambling Studies Program to explore gambling-related harm through the lens of men’s mental health. Moderated by Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, the discussion will examine why boys and young men may be particularly vulnerable in today’s digital gambling environment, how financial and emotional distress can remain hidden, and what earlier, more practical support could look like before harm escalates.

Discussion themes:

• Why sports betting and online gambling may carry distinct risks for young men
• How financial stress, isolation, and emotional distress can reinforce one another
• Why warning signs may be missed until harm escalates
• What prevention and support could look like for boys, men, families, and communities

About the Panelists:

Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., Director of Gaming Services & Program Development, Kindbridge

Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., LMHC / LPC, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, is an Associate Professor at Grand Canyon University and has served in multiple roles related to program development for Gambling and Video-related treatment programs. He currently serves as the Board President for the IGCCB. He is currently the co-chair of the APA research task force on gaming issues and is working on several nationwide training programs to help mental health professionals understand video games in innovative ways.

Dr. Timothy Fong, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA and Co-Director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program

Dr. Fong is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. He is board certified in adult and addiction psychiatry. He is the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. The purpose of this program is to examine the clinical characteristics of gambling disorder in order to develop effective, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Dr. Fong is also a member of the Steering Committee of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids whose mission is to address the most pressing questions related to the impact of cannabis legalization through rigorous scientific study and discourse across disciplines. He is the senior attending psychiatrist for the UCLA Sports Psychiatry Service which provides leading edge psychiatric care to athletes, coaches and families. Lastly, he is the President, of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Jonathan Cohen, Policy Lead, American Institute for Boys and Men

Jonathan D. Cohen leads gambling policy for the American Institute for Boys and Men. He is the author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling (2025) and For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America (2022).