False Start: The Psychology of Sports Betting and What Frum Mental Health Professionals Need to Know (Recorded)
1 Hour
Previously Recorded
Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G
Price
Paid
$29.99 USD
Member: $19.99 USD
Yahoo!
Description
Sports betting has exploded into mainstream American life, and Orthodox Jewish communities are not immune — clinicians, educators, and rabbinical leaders are increasingly confronting it across age groups and settings, often without adequate tools or language. This presentation examines the psychological mechanisms driving problem gambling in the current landscape — cognitive fallacies, System 1 thinking, near-miss reinforcement, and app design engineered to bypass rational decision-making — and translates that clinical knowledge into practice. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for understanding the psychology of sports betting — and practical language for bringing that understanding into conversations with clients, families, and the community.
About the Presenter:
Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G is a New York City-based psychotherapist, professor, and international public speaker specializing in addiction, relationships, and stress reduction. He has taught at Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work and Touro College's Mental Health Counseling program, including coursework in addiction theory and treatment. He lectures widely on addiction, mental health, and spirituality, and has consulted for schools on gambling awareness and prevention, with a focus on the unique challenges facing the frum community.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the neurobiological mechanisms underlying sports betting behavior, including dopamine-driven reinforcement cycles, the near-miss effect, and the structural features of betting apps that exploit these brain processes.
- Identify the cognitive fallacies that sustain problem gambling — including the gamblers fallacy, the illusion of skill, and distorted social modeling — and explain how each is reflected in a clients presenting thinking.
- Explain why contemporary sports betting platforms pose heightened clinical risk, including the role of System 1 thinking, parlay incentives, adolescent brain development, and the specific barriers to recognition and help-seeking in frum communities.
Agenda:
Introduction: Why Sports Betting Matters Now — 10 minutes
• The rise of legalized online sports betting
• Increased accessibility and normalization
• Emerging concerns within frum communities
The Psychology of Sports Betting — 20 minutes
• Dopamine and reinforcement cycles
• Near-miss effect and intermittent rewards
• Cognitive distortions:
- Gambler’s fallacy
- Illusion of control
- Social modeling and normalization
• System 1 thinking and impulsive decision-making
Clinical Recognition and Cultural Considerations — 15 minutes
• Warning signs and assessment considerations
• Adolescent and young adult vulnerability
• Shame, secrecy, and barriers to help-seeking in frum communities
Case Discussion and Treatment Considerations — 10 minutes
• Brief clinical vignette
• Psychoeducation strategies
• Treatment and referral considerations
Closing Reflections and Resources — 5 minutes
• Key takeaways
• Resources for clinicians and families
This presentation is open to:
- Behavior Analysts
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
This online class is offered at an intermediate level, and is beneficial for an intermediate level clinician:
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Additional information
- Refunds: Registrants who are unable to attend a NEFESH seminar or live webinars may ask for, and will receive, a credit or refund (your choice). Refund requests will be processed within 3 business days. When an attendee knows in advance that they are unable to attend we ask that they inform NEFESH ahead of time by emailing secretary@nefeshinternational.org or by calling or texting 201-384-0084 this allows us to free up the spot in the training in the event that a training is at or near capacity.
- Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.
- Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly.
- The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH is available here
- Satisfactory Completion: Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion in your account or by clicking here
- Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
- System Requirements: Any device (such as a computer, tablet, or phone), Dual-Core 2 GHz or higher processor, and at least 4 GB of RAM capable of running a Zoom session, along with a stable internet connection.
- Although early registration is recommended for this class in order to ensure the best experience, attendees may register and join until the start of the program
What browser is recommended to view webinars? +
The video does not start. How do I start the Stream? +
Click the play button (the triangle) that is in the middle of the video player
I completed the webinar but cannot find my certificate +
Click on the link at the bottom of the video player where it says “Get your certificate”. The certificates can also be found in the workshops and certificates pages on your account
Will my regulatory bodies accept the certificate provided for continued education credits +
The certificates provided are accepted by most regulatory bodies. Please see the list of provided certificates on the bottom of each webinar page. Make sure that you are aware of your states and disciplines regulations to ensure that you chose the correct certificate. If you need assistance with this, Please feel free to email.
I can not be present at the time of the live presentation. Will I be able to access it at a later time? +
If you are not able to view the webinar when it streams live, you may use the link to watch it at your convenience. All webinar recordings become available on the website about 24 hours after they stream live.
How much time do I have to view the webinar? +
You are allotted enough time to watch the webinar one time plus enough time to review most of the webinar a second time. If for some reason you run out of time, do not worry, just reach out to us on the contact page.