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    • Sports Betting & Gambling Disorder with Dr. Timothy Fong

    Guest: Dr. Timothy Fong, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Team Psychiatrist at UCLA / Los Angeles Lakers

    Hosts: Dr. Mark Allen & Dr. Tommy Horn

    Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of gambling disorder and addiction. If you or someone you know needs help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 (available 24/7).

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    AI SUMMARY

    Episode Overview

    Sports betting has fundamentally changed the athlete mental health landscape - and clinicians, teams, and athletes are still catching up. In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Drs. Mark Allen and Tommy Horn sit down with Dr. Timothy Fong, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, and team psychiatrist for the Los Angeles Lakers. Dr. Fong walks through why gambling disorder is more common than people think, the three ways sports betting affects athletes (addiction, integrity violations, and online abuse), why prop bets fuel harassment of individual players, and what effective gambling-disorder treatment actually looks like. This episode isn't about banning gambling - it's about education, prevention, and protecting athlete well-being in a rapidly changing sports landscape.

    Key Takeaways

  • • Rapid Expansion of Sports Betting: Why sports betting expanded so rapidly after 2018 and how increased access changes behavior.
  • • Gambling Disorder is Common: Gambling disorder is more common than many realize - and often mistaken for a 'money problem.'
  • • Three Ways Gambling Impacts Athletes: Athletes are affected through addiction, integrity violations, and online abuse tied to betting.
  • • Prop Bets Dehumanize Athletes: Proposition bets can increase harassment and abuse tied to individual performance metrics.
  • • Young Athletes Are Vulnerable: Young athletes are particularly vulnerable in a culture where gambling is normalized.
  • • Effective Treatment Exists: You don't have to hit 'rock bottom' to seek help - effective treatment for gambling disorder is available.
  • • Language Matters: The difference between 'losing' money and 'spending' money shifts how we understand gambling behavior.

    • Show Notes

    About Dr. Timothy Fong

    Dr. Timothy Fong is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Team Psychiatrist at UCLA / Los Angeles Lakers.

    Topics Discussed

  • • The 2018 expansion of sports betting and its impact
  • • Understanding gambling disorder vs. recreational betting
  • • How gambling affects athletes: addiction, integrity, and abuse
  • • The impact of prop bets on athlete mental health
  • • Youth athletes and normalized gambling culture
  • • Treatment approaches for gambling disorder
  • • Language and framing in gambling conversations
  • • Athlete protection in the sports betting era

    • Resources Mentioned

  • • 1-800-GAMBLER (24/7 Support)
  • • e-VIVE Gambling Education App
  • • UCLA Gambling Studies Program

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