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False Start: The Psychology of Sports Betting and What Frum Mental Health Professionals Need to Know

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026   3:15 PM EDT -4:15 PM EDT
Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G
$29.99 USD Cost For Member: $0
 
 
 
 
 

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 workshop offers 1 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • 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
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • 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

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

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 to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
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Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.