Training & Research

Training Calendar

We believe it’s crucial to advance diverse perspectives on problem gambling. Here, you’ll find events hosted by leaders, researchers, clinicians and advocates from a wide range of communities and backgrounds. Many of our trainings also offer gambling-specific CEs!

NATIONAL TRAINING Calendar
Apr
14
Tue
2026
The National Problem Gambling Helpline™: Contact Data, Key Emerging Trends, and Expanding Partner Impact
Apr 14 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The National Council on Problem Gambling, in collaboration with key partners and researchers from the Omni Institute, analyzed three years of National Problem Gambling Helpline™ data to identify key trends in help-seeking behavior. This webinar will present findings from the analysis, which reviewed traffic patterns, contact volume and modality, demographics, and other indicators. Presenters will explore key emerging trends, including shifts in demand, evolving access pathways, and the influence of policy and market changes, such as the expansion of online sports betting. These insights will be used to inform ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality, and alignment between states, providers, and partners in addressing emerging needs. Price: Free for members, $59 for non-members CE’s Available: There are no CE’s available for this webinar
Apr
23
Thu
2026
The Future of Mental Health Symposium 2026
Apr 23 – Apr 24 all-day
The Future of Mental Health Symposium 2026 brings together leaders, practitioners, educators, and community voices to explore where care, innovation, and prevention intersect.
Engage in forward-thinking dialogue on co-occurring addiction, AI technology, cultural competency, ethics, faith-based support, financial literacy, STEM, senior health, responsible gambling, treatment and recovery, prevention, and peer support—all through a collaborative, community-centered lens.
Hosted by the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council (ARPG Council), this symposium reflects the commitment to culturally responsive solutions, ethical innovation, and strengthening mental health systems for today and tomorrow.
Apr
27
Mon
2026
Western Regional Conference on Problem Gambling Awareness: Focus on the Future
Apr 27 – Apr 30 all-day
Focus on the Future is the largest and longest-standing conference on problem gambling awareness in the Pacific Northwest. Launched in 2007, Focus on the Future brings together an incredible mixture of compelling speakers – experts from across the country and around the world – and opportunities to network and learn from colleagues in the field. It is a place where you can exchange your ideas, experiences, and knowledge to become a collective voice in raising awareness and developing programs and services that have the greatest positive impact.
May
1
Fri
2026
Ask Me Anything: A Parent’s Perspective on Navigating a Child’s Gambling Addiction
May 1 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join Kim Freudenberg, the mother of a young person impacted by gambling addiction, for an open conversation about what it means to support a child through gambling-related harm. Drawing from her lived experience, Kim will share insights into the emotional, financial, and relational impacts gambling addiction can have on parents and caregivers. This interactive Ask Me Anything session will explore the realities of recognizing harm, navigating treatment and recovery systems, advocating for appropriate care, and seeking support as a loved one, with attendees encouraged to bring questions and engage in a candid dialogue centered on the parent experience.
May
5
Tue
2026
Town Hall with 2026 NCPG Board Candidates
May 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
This NCPG member-exclusive webinar will provide an opportunity for members to meet the candidates running in the 2026 NCPG Board of Directors election.
May
6
Wed
2026
Gambling Disorder Training Series (Stage II)
May 6 @ 10:00 am – May 8 @ 3:00 pm
Stage II: Applications and Approaches in Treating Gambling Disorder 05-06-2026 10:00 AM Prerequisite: Stage I: Gambling, Problem Gambling, and Ohio’s Service System or 12 hours of gambling-specific education required Schedule: This virtual training will run on Wednesday, May 6 - Friday, May 8. Each day the session will run from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST with a 1-hour break from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. Each day will consist of 4 hours of content totaling 12 hours. Course description: This workshop builds on the Stage I training, aimed at conceptualization, treatment planning and treatment delivery for those presenting with problem gambling and gambling disorder. Best practice models of care for gambling issues will be reviewed. The workshop will be interactive, with large and small group exercises aimed at increasing competencies for gambling treatment.   Learning Objectives: Participants will learn assessment tools and protocols designed specifically for gambling treatment Participants will learn culturally sensitive treatment protocols designed for treating gambling and reducing gambling harm Participants will review potential ethical dilemmas when working with clients presenting with gambling issues Who Should Attend: Treatment professionals looking to specialize in treating gambling disorder Cost: $50 Continuing Education: 12.0 CEUs are available for this training which can be used toward obtaining the GAMB Endorsement through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Board or towards becoming a counselor qualified to treat gambling disorder through the Ohio Social Worker, Counselor, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board.   Problem Gambling Network of Ohio is an approved continuing education provider through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board, the Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board, and the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization.   Lead Trainers: Jesse Wodrig, MBA, LCDCIII-GAMB, OCPSA and Katrina Arroyo, M.Ed., LPCC, LICDC-GAMB   Jesse Wodrig is the Director of Clinical Programs for PGNO. Jesse has worked in the treatment services field for 10 years primarily working with clients living with substance use disorders. He has both direct service and administrative experience in this field. Starting in 2020, he started trainings to build competency to assist clients living with gambling disorders, and this has become his primary professional interest. As the Director of Clinical Programs, Jesse heads efforts to connect clients to telehealth services for assistance in treating gambling disorders while also facilitating occasional trainings.   Katrina Arroyo, M.Ed, LPCC, LICDC-GAMB, ICGC-I earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kent State University in 2017. With a strong foundation in behavioral health, Katrina has developed a specialized focus on problem gambling. She currently serves as the Manager of Clinical Programs at the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, where she supports statewide efforts to expand access to quality gambling treatment, training, and clinical support. Register Now
May
12
Tue
2026
Agility Grants: A Model for Community Prevention
May 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
NCPG’s Agility Grants initiative, generously funded by the NFL via the NFL Foundation, provides structured funding to communities to empower and implement problem gambling prevention programs. This session will explore the program’s origins, design principles, and evaluation approach, identifying strategies for scaling, measuring, and sustaining prevention initiatives across diverse populations. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building, growing, and evaluating prevention programs that align with evidence-based practices and advance public health goals. This webinar is free to the public, but registration is required. There are no CE’s available for this webinar.  
Jun
4
Thu
2026
Gambling Disorder Training Series (Stage III)
Jun 4 @ 9:00 am – Jun 5 @ 12:15 pm
Stage III: Introduction to the Roles of Family and Finances in Treating Gambling Disorder 06-04-2026 09:00 AM Prerequisite: Stage I: Gambling, Problem Gambling, and Ohio’s Service System or 12 hours of gambling-specific education required Schedule: This virtual training will run on Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5. Each day, the session will run from 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET with a 15-minute break. Each day will consist of 3 hours of content totaling 6 hours. Course description: Clinicians seeking to provide treatment for gambling disorders may find themselves addressing areas unique to problem gambling, such as financial management or the impact family members can have on recovery. This advanced clinical training provides clinicians with the education and tools they need to competently address family and/or finances in treatment planning.   In this workshop participants will explore family structure, the impact that gambling can have on family, as well as how to engage family members in the treatment process. Additionally, participants will explore their own personal and cultural attitudes about money as well as the role of money in the treatment and recovery from problem gambling. This workshop is experiential and didactic.   Learning Objectives: Understand how involving family in gambling treatment can impact outcomes Learn about the impact of gambling on family members and how to engage them in the treatment process Increase awareness of our own beliefs and biases about money as it impacts a clinician’s work with clients Understand the roles that money and money mindsets play in the treatment and recovery from problem gambling Identify the best ways to clinically address issues of money in the treatment and recovery of our problem gambling clients Who Should Attend: Treatment professionals looking to specialize in treating gambling disorder   Cost: $40   Continuing Education: 6.0 CEUs are available for this training which can be used toward obtaining the GAMB Endorsement through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Board or towards becoming a counselor qualified to treat gambling disorder through the Ohio Social Worker, Counselor, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board.   Problem Gambling Network of Ohio is an approved continuing education provider through the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board, the Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board, and the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization.   Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board Subject Areas: No prevention continuing education hours are available for this training. C2: 1.5 hours; C5: 2.25 hours; C8: 1.0 hours; C9: 1.25 hours G2: 4.0 hours; G3: 0.5 hours; G4: 1.5 hours Lead Trainer: Nan Franks, M.A., LPC-S, LICDC-CS-GAMB   Nan Franks has worked in community and behavioral health for over 40 years. Her professional work has focused on addictive illness and its effect on individuals, families and community. She was a co-founder a model of rapid response to overdose survivors referred to as the Quick Response Team (QRT) model.   Her clinical service expertise includes family counseling, recovery support and intervention. She has provided training all over the country focused on addiction, families, counseling skills, trauma and codependency. She is a Ramsey Solutions Certified Financial Coach and helps everyday people manage finances and create wealth. In addition, she has authored three books on professional ethics for behavioral health service providers.   Ms. Franks has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Kalamazoo College and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She is trained in the Johnson Institute, Love First, Arise, and CRAFT approaches to intervention. She continues to enjoy learning and expanding her understanding of community problems and solutions.   She is a graduate of the Ohio Problem Gambling Fellowship and the Advanced Fellowship.
Jun
10
Wed
2026
Virtual Problem Gambling Advocacy Day
Jun 10 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Virtual Problem Gambling Advocacy Day is a powerful and impactful event where individuals, organizations, and advocates come together to raise awareness and educate legislators about the critical issue of problem gambling. Every voice makes a difference. It’s your chance to speak out in favor of problem gambling awareness, educate your legislators on the importance of strong public policies, and share impactful stories from your community. Registration Deadline: May 18, 2026