Behind the Bet: Addressing Gambling and Mental Health Among Young Men
Thursday, June 25, 2026
11:00–12:00 PM MT
Join via Zoom
Free
This webinar has ended. Watch the recording and read the key insights here.
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
Key speakers
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 UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. He completed his undergraduate and medical training at Northwestern University and his psychiatry residency at UCLA, followed by an addiction psychiatry fellowship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. He co-directs the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, which focuses on understanding and treating gambling disorder. He also directs the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and is a founding member of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative.
Jonathan D. 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).
