Gambling By Any Other Name: An Exploration of Emerging Gambling Technologies

Includes a Live Web Event on 05/13/2026 at 12:00 PM (CDT)

Join us on May 13, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 pm CT for Gambling By Any Other Name: An Exploration of Emerging Gambling Technologies with Joshua Grubbs!

This seminar investigates the blurring boundaries between traditional betting and modern speculative activities. Participants will explore three distinct forms of nontraditional gambling: high-risk stock/options trading, cryptocurrency speculation, and the gamblification of video games, specifically loot boxes. The talk identifies critical differences regarding social perception, accessibility, and the illusion of skill. Evidence highlights that day trading and cryptocurrency speculation are significantly associated with problem gambling symptoms and other addictive behaviors. These risks are notably high for a specific demographic: young men with higher education and disposable income. Furthermore, the session examines how gamblified elements like loot boxes are linked to problematic symptoms, potentially serving as an "accelerant" for gambling engagement. Ultimately, participants will learn to recognize when "speculative" behaviors manifest as gambling-like symptoms in clinical populations.

Objectives:

By the end of this one-hour seminar, participants will be able to:

Identify and describe at least three distinct forms of nontraditional gambling, including high-risk stock/options trading, cryptocurrency speculation, and the gamblification of video games (e.g., loot boxes).
Articulate two key differences between traditional gambling and modern speculative activities, focusing on the areas of social perception, accessibility, and the illusion of skill.
Recognize three specific psychological or demographic risk factors that increase an individual’s susceptibility to developing problematic behaviors related to these nontraditional forms of gambling

Live and On Demand CE pending approval.

This training is sponsored in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery.

ICPG workshops and trainings provide CEU (continuing education units) through the Illinois Certification Board based on approval for individual trainings.
The State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has approved all ICPG workshops and trainings as a Registered Social Worker CE Sponsor. This program is recognized as providing CE hours for: LSW/LCSW and LPC/LCPC under IDFPR license #159.001302.
The International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization recognizes ICPG as a preferred partner for workshops and trainings in line with the ICGC Level I & II.

Joshua Grubbs

Joshua Grubbs, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico and an investigator at the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions, where he studies compulsive sexual behavior disorder, gambling disorder, and personality traits. He is especially interested in the social construction of addiction and understanding what leads people feel out of control in their behavior. More simply, he studies how people come to think of themselves as having a behavioral addiction and why people might arrive at the conclusion that they have a behavioral addiction. With over 175 peer-reviewed scientific publications to his name, his work provides a foundational understanding of how emerging platforms—including mobile sports betting, internet gambling, and digital gaming—intersect with behavioral addiction and mental health. His expertise is frequently sought in high-stakes legal and regulatory matters, where he has provided extensive expert witness testimony and consultation on cases involving industry practices, state statutes, and the clinical nuances of compulsive behaviors. By bridging the gap between rigorous longitudinal research and the practical realities of the modern wagering environment, he offers an evidence-based perspective on the risk factors, diagnostic criteria, and societal impacts of gambling in the 21st century.