Understanding and Addressing Problem Gambling in Older Adults

Includes a Live Web Event on 11/04/2026 at 11:00 AM (CST)

Please join us on November 4th from 11:00-12:30pm CT for Understanding and Addressing Problem Gambling in Older Adults with Jody Bechtold and Beth Mulvaney!

This webinar offers seasoned clinicians a fresh perspective on older adults, particularly Baby Boomers, and their engagement in gambling as a leisure activity and a component of healthy aging. Gerontology social worker, Beth Mulvaney, joins us to provide critical insights into the primary care physician's role, the challenges of effectively screening for problematic gambling, and the interpretation of behaviors often misattributed to dementia. We'll explore why older adults are particularly vulnerable to developing gambling problems, the crucial warning signs to watch for, and practical screening methods. Participants will also learn about diverse treatment options tailored to this population, the significance of responsible gambling strategies, and how to effectively incorporate these techniques when working with older adults.

Target Audience: Professionals who work with older adults, including social workers, healthcare providers, and activities coordinators.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to

Identify the risk factors for problem gambling in older adults.
Recognize the warning signs of problem gambling in older adults.
Screen for gambling problems in older adults.
Provide information on treatment options for older adults with gambling problems.
Educate older adults on responsible gambling strategies.
Develop strategies for incorporating responsible gambling techniques when working with older adults.

Workshop Format: This workshop will be interactive and will include a mix of lecture, discussion, and activities.

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.

Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT

CEO

The Better Institute

Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT is a highly regarded gambling addiction expert working extensively across the globe with individuals, organizations, and associations. She is the CEO of The Better Institute, a group practice located in Pittsburgh. She is the co-author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals (2021) and 2 chapters in the Social Workers Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2022. She serves as an Advisor to several startup and non-profits organizations including GamFin, Birches Health, and Seagulls Flock in the Philippines. She also serves as an Emeritus board member for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB). Jody holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and has several certifications with the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, CGT).

When Jody isn’t working, you can find her providing pet therapy with her dog, Hanna, and supporting her husband’s business, Pittsburgh Guitars. Please email [email protected] or visit www.BetterInstitute.com to contact Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT.

Elizabeth Mulvaney

Elizabeth A. Mulvaney, MSW, LCSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, where she chairs the Direct Practice Specialization and co-chairs the Gerontology Certificate. A licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of direct practice experience serving older adults, she has focused on older-adult problem gambling prevention and outreach for more than fifteen years, supported by several state-funded outreach grants and a university pilot study on responsible gambling training for professional staff. She has co-authored peer-reviewed research on training providers to address gambling-related problems and has presented at national and regional conferences on recognizing and preventing gambling harm among older adults. She has also delivered numerous invited trainings on this topic for area agencies on aging, behavioral health organizations, and community groups, and her work was recognized with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania's "Person of the Year — Research and Academics" award in 2014. She is a member of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania and the National Council on Problem Gambling.