Technology's Impact on Gambling and Gaming: Addressing and Reducing Harms
Recorded On: 02/25/2025
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The rise of advanced technology in gambling and gaming has introduced significant risks, driven by persuasive design techniques that exploit cognitive vulnerabilities. Features like loot boxes, microtransactions, and personalized algorithms blur the line between entertainment and financial risk-taking, increasing addiction, financial harm, and psychological distress. These harms are compounded by the accessibility of online and mobile platforms, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.
This presentation explores how persuasive technologies—such as reward schedules and data-driven personalization—drive compulsive behaviors in gambling and gaming. It provides clinicians and prevention workers with insights into these mechanisms and their psychological impacts. Attendees will learn evidence-based harm reduction strategies, including digital literacy education, targeted screening tools, and advocacy for stronger regulatory measures.
By understanding the intersection of technology and behavioral risks, participants will gain tools to better identify and address gambling and gaming-related harms, fostering resilience and well-being in affected communities.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Recognize Technology-Driven Risks: Identify how persuasive design features in gambling and gaming platforms contribute to behavioral, psychological, and financial harms among individuals at risk.
2. Implement Targeted Interventions: Develop and apply harm reduction strategies, such as screening for technology-influenced behaviors and promoting digital literacy, to support individuals affected by gambling and gaming-related harms.
3. Promote Community and Systems Advocacy: Equip clinicians and prevention workers with strategies to advocate within communities and systems for addressing exploitative technology designs in gambling and gaming, fostering safer environments and supportive policies.
CE accreditation for the following categories: COUN I or II, PREV I or II, CARS I or II, CODP I or II, PCGC I or II, CCJP II, CAAP I, CRSS I or II, CPRS I or II, MAATP II, CVSS II, LSW, LCSW, LCPC, LPC.
On Demand Viewing is available now. Live Virtual was held on 2/25/2025.
This project is funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. 
Stephanie Diez, PhD, MSW
MSW Program Director & Associate Professor
Penn West University - Social Work, Sociology, and Human Services
Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel (pronouns: she/her) is an associate professor and the Program Director of the Masters of Social Work graduate program at Pennsylvania Western University. As a Licensed Clinical Social and PhD level researcher, Dr. Diez-Morel has dedicated her work to helping improve the lives of youth, families, adults and communities. She is the author of a plethora of presentations, scientific research studies, and book chapters on the topics of gaming disorder and associated behavioral addictions. In 2013, Dr. Diez-Morel founded Reboot & Recover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding solutions for a balanced living in a technology driven world. She has established education, prevention curriculums, treatment, and research on gaming disorder and other problematic technology-based behaviors for children, youth, adults, and families that have been utilized by organizations worldwide. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally to aid prevention workers, social workers, counselors, and medical professionals working with youth, families, and adults experiencing psychosocial concerns or harms due to their gaming or technology use behavior.
Dr. Diez-Morel earned her Ph.D. from Florida International University where she was awarded a student scholar in Health Disparities Research Fellowship with CRUSADA (the Center for Research on US Latino/as Drug Abuse and Addictions) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Diez-Morel utilizes her expertise in behavioral health and addictions to serve in various role including as Emeritus Board Member of the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) and through this role, helped to lead development of the world’s first International Gaming Disorder Certification for helping professionals. Dr. Diez-Morel is also the co-lead for the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Gaming Disorder Taskforce and serves as the National Association of Social Work’s (NASW-PA) 2nd Vice President of Finance and Executive Committee member. Dr. Diez-Morel continues her clinical practice as a licensed practitioner and splits her time between direct clinical practice, research, prevention work, teaching, and service to the community.
