Sports Betting Addiction with Dr. Lipi Roy: Dopamine, Competition & Self-Inflicted Crisis

Addiction medicine physician Dr. Lipi Roy joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for critical discussion on gambling crisis in professional sports. From NBA betting scandals (Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested, Jontay Porter permanently banned) to NCAA allowing athletes bet on pro sports despite Fresno State basketball conspiracy, hear comprehensive analysis of behavioral addiction science. Dr. Roy explains dopamine triggers, why competitive Type A athletes are high-risk, how male brain doesn't fully develop until 25, prop bet dangers enabling fixes, Swedish study showing 15x suicide rate for gambling disorder, American Heart Association research linking problematic gambling to 50% arterio sclerosis rates, and profound shame leading to depression. Plus treatment options including medications (not FDA approved yet) and cognitive behavioral therapy, why NHL Player Assistance Program needs separate gambling category, 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowing $120 billion legally wagered 2023, 10-year-old kids seeing DraftKings FanDuel ads at Madison Square Garden normalizing behavior, and why regulation matters when genie can't go back in bottle. Toronto-born hockey fan since age 9 combines medical expertise with deep sport understanding.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome: Pro Sports Self-Inflicted Problem with Dr. Lipi Roy Encore Episode

[01:00] - October 23 NBA rocked: Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones arrested

[02:00] - Rigged poker games: connections organized crime, insider betting schemes

[03:00] - Jontay Porter: Toronto Raptors forward permanently banned from NBA

[04:00] - Betting scandals over century: 1919 Black Sox throwing World Series

[05:00] - Pete Rose: Cleveland Guardians Luis Ortiz, Emmanuel Clase under suspicion

[06:00] - Throwing intentional balls: first pitches of innings since middle of summer

[07:00] - Basketball 1951 point shaving: CCNY, NBA referee Tim Donaghy 2007

[08:00] - Football several players suspended: violating NFL gambling policy recent years

[09:00] - Hockey two years ago: Shane Pinto suspended 41 games

[10:00] - Friends bet for him US while in Canada: claims did not wager NHL games

[11:00] - Gambling and addiction: problem continues to fester in society

[12:00] - Major leagues in bed with casinos: only matter of time

[13:00] - Young people drawn into gambling: knowing much more than I will

[14:00] - Dr. Lipi Roy: addiction medicine physician, international speaker

[15:00] - National media medical commentator: MSNBC, NBC News, CNN, News Nation

[16:00] - Forbes contributor: founder CDA Med health speaking company

[17:00] - Host YouTube show: Health, Humor and Harmony, Health Hockey and Leadership

[18:00] - Hockey and Mental Health gala: met in New York City

[19:00] - Diehard hockey fan since 9 years old: born and raised Toronto like Neil

[20:00] - Later years studied medicine: lucky to be physician, addiction medicine specialty

[21:00] - Addiction like heart disease: can affect absolutely anybody

[22:00] - Not moral feeling: sports betting form of gambling on rise

[23:00] - All sports pro leads: hockey not any different, clearly health consequences

[24:00] - Can be really serious problematic issue

[25:00] - Gambling addiction: brain gets addicted to, not something you ingest

[26:00] - Adrenaline from gambling: what happens in brain?

[27:00] - Glad you brought B word: brain most complex machine known to humankind

[28:00] - Explain to patients and public: how I kind of explain it

[29:00] - Think of addiction: think drugs, alcohol, cocaine, heroin

[30:00] - Substance use disorders: drug alcohol addictions true

[31:00] - Another type category: behavioral addictions

[32:00] - Gambling, gaming, pornography: work, social media, devices, food

[33:00] - Behaviors: still falls under big umbrella diagnosis addiction

[34:00] - Any type substance use or behavior: causes compulsive consumption

[35:00] - Effect adversely impairs day-to-day function

[36:00] - Joke about addicted chocolate: not really addicted

[37:00] - Not consuming chocolate cake tiramisu: unable to go work, pay bills

[38:00] - Good friendships and relationships: addiction behavior harming day-to-day

[39:00] - Gambling most US Canadian adults do: no harm, enjoy and move on

[40:00] - Similar alcohol: most people drink glass wine or beer, not problem

[41:00] - Small minority with risk factors: go on develop addiction

[42:00] - Undeveloped brain: male brain doesn't fully develop until around 25

[43:00] - Gambling allowed 18 and above: harder thing with younger people?

[44:00] - Great question: expand how brain is involved

[45:00] - Addiction chronic disease of brain: addictive substance or behavior

[46:00] - Affects parts brain: control decision-making, cravings, habits

[47:00] - Basal ganglia: emotions, irritability, amygdala primitive part of brain

[48:00] - Executive function: prefrontal cortex, clearly impairment of brain

[49:00] - Brain disease: chronic condition, no one's addicted just one day

[50:00] - Good news treatment available: we'll talk about that

[51:00] - Studies showing: gambling addictions affects more men than women, far more

[52:00] - Sports betting: trend again mostly men, lot research happening

[53:00] - Need far more research: age very key

[54:00] - Addiction world advise: parents young children and teenagers

[55:00] - Wait till maybe at least 16 onwards: before experiment

[56:00] - Young kids preteens: experimenting with weed, drink alcohol

[57:00] - If can wait till late bit later: reason brain still developing

[58:00] - Neuronal connections: very vulnerable time

[59:00] - Studies very clear: younger you start, more likely higher risk

[01:00:00] - Develop harmful use: addiction later in life

[01:01:00] - Addiction to gambling associated: other addictions including substance use

[01:02:00] - Increased rates drinking, smoking

[01:03:00] - Saturday NCAA permits athletes bet pro sports: despite their own issues

[01:04:00] - September 10 three Fresno State basketball players: conspiring gambling scheme

[01:05:00] - NCAA acknowledges problem: allow athletes bet pro sports

[01:06:00] - Speaking out both sides of mouth

[01:07:00] - 2024 gambling trends: traditional gambling casino, internet unlimited

[01:08:00] - Sports betting exploding: now legal well over 38 states

[01:09:00] - 20 years ago: legally bet sports, go Atlantic City or Las Vegas

[01:10:00] - Now don't get off sofa: mobile technology and legal changes

[01:11:00] - 2018 Supreme Court ruling: allowed sports betting

[01:12:00] - American Gambling Association: $120 billion legally wagered sports 2023

[01:13:00] - Pointing out obvious: sports betting deeply embedded in culture

[01:14:00] - Every commercial broadcast sponsorship: live game, social media feeds

[01:15:00] - Pro athletes promoting advertising: betting companies

[01:16:00] - NCAA these athletes: teenagers right, young people

[01:17:00] - Brain more developed than 10-year-old: haven't fully, so much pressure

[01:18:00] - Very unique stressful time: spikes certain mental illness bipolar, schizophrenia

[01:19:00] - Allowed sports betting: gambling, addictive behavior

[01:20:00] - Doctor addiction medicine: find that deeply concerning

[01:21:00] - Permit athletes bet pro sports college: percentage become pros

[01:22:00] - No way given addiction: turn switch off, bigger problem sports leagues

[01:23:00] - Don't wanna alarm people: most adults gambled without problems

[01:24:00] - Don't wanna over-pathologize: enjoyable activity

[01:25:00] - Sports betting deeply embedded: 10-year-old kids Madison Square Garden

[01:26:00] - United Center Chicago, TD Garden Boston: large arenas

[01:27:00] - Massive ads: billboards screens, DraftKings FanDuel

[01:28:00] - What's more normalized: young children going basketball games, NCAA games

[01:29:00] - Really concerning: young kids 18-year-old NCAA, call 19 17 20 21 22

[01:30:00] - Already being normalized: going into DNA at pretty young age

[01:31:00] - Hit pros: see money, wanna talk another addiction and pressure

[01:32:00] - Goes back to brain: gambling triggers dopamine release

[01:33:00] - Patients first hit heroin: first drink, tobacco

[01:34:00] - Addictive substances and behaviors: release dopamine pleasure neurotransmitter

[01:35:00] - Once get that hit: brain wants more and more

[01:36:00] - Not pathologize: most people sports betting not problem until becomes one

[01:37:00] - If pro sports NCAA: introduce and allow clearly addictive behavior

[01:38:00] - Need other measures in place: make sure doesn't become problematic

[01:39:00] - Identify at-risk behavior: know signs and symptoms

[01:40:00] - Get ahead of it: before becomes major problem

[01:41:00] - When does: will for certain some people, tools in place

[01:42:00] - Evidence-based treatment and care

[01:43:00] - Prop bets: seeing fixes, NBA case last year

[01:44:00] - Player pulled out after two minutes: said sick or injured

[01:45:00] - Bunch buddies bet under: flagged, bets nullified

[01:46:00] - Prop bets micro bets: mentioned Cleveland Guardians pitchers

[01:47:00] - Larger problems: singular plays, singular events within game

[01:48:00] - Easy to bet on: also easy to fix

[01:49:00] - Ease what's really concerning: supply side analogy

[01:50:00] - Parents public elected officials concerned: too...