Webinar: You Have to Have Money to Gamble… Don’t You? Unpacking the Overlooked Link Between Gambling and Homelessness

Date: February 11, 2025     Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Cost: $15.00     CEU Hours: 1.5

Gambling is often viewed as a problem for those with disposable income—but emerging research challenges that assumption. People experiencing homelessness or housing instability are showing elevated rates of problem gambling, with studies reporting prevalence as high as 10–30%. For many, gambling becomes both a coping mechanism and a perceived pathway out of poverty, yet it can quickly spiral into deeper instability, debt, and loss of trust within housing and recovery programs.

This presentation explores how gambling behaviors manifest among unhoused populations, why they’re frequently overlooked, and how providers can identify and address this hidden barrier to stability. Through data, case examples, and practical strategies, participants will learn how to integrate gambling screening and harm-reduction approaches into existing behavioral health and housing services to improve outcomes and support long-term recovery.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify at least three ways gambling can occur among people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and explain why traditional assumptions about “who gambles” are misleading.
2. Describe the relationship between gambling, trauma, and social determinants of health—including how gambling can both precede and prolong homelessness.
3. Apply at least two practical strategies for screening, discussing, or addressing gambling behaviors within housing, mental health, or substance use treatment settings.

Presenter Biography
Andrew J. Schreier is an Independent Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Approved Clinical Consultant, and International Certified Gambling Counselor – II. Mr. Schreier graduated from Ottawa University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Human Services. He is the Wisconsin Clinical Coordinator for Community Medical Services that provides medicated-assisted treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. He provides oversight and guidance for all clinical and behavioral health services. Mr. Schreier also works at New Life Resources, Inc. that provides individual counseling/therapy, children and adolescent services, couples/marital counseling, group therapy, and consultation. Experience over the years includes working in a group home, halfway house, residential, medicated-assisted treatment, and outpatient treatment settings. He presents on various topics related to substance use, mental health, gambling, clinical supervision, ethics, and various other topics to statewide and national audiences. Mr. Schreier is the host of “Talking Addiction & Recovery” Podcast.