Regional Problem Gambling Conferences in 2025

Feb 27, 2025 | Problem Gambling Conference, RGANM In The News

In an effort to provide continuing education to treatment providers across our large state, the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico holds occasional workshops and symposiums on problem gambling in locations across New Mexico. Information about our annual conference is found here. Here are the more intimate, regional sessions that are scheduled for 2025:

May 9, 2025 at Sky City Casino in Acoma, NM: The 5th Annual Symposium on Problem Gambling: Two Roads Meet 2025. This one-day session will be presented by Daniel Blackwood, LPCC IGCC2-BACC, and David Lente, LADAC ICGC2. Problem gambling is often described as the “hidden addiction” because it is so easy to hide in the earlier stages and often goes undetected in relationships, families, in the therapy room, at primary care doctor visits, and at the emergency room. Acoma Business Enterprises in cooperation with The Evolution Group, Inc., is offering a unique therapist training opportunity that is being held at Sky City Casino for providers in New Mexico. This training seminar is comprehensive introduction training for therapists, to learn how to effectively treat the complex issues that persons with a gambling disorder present keeping in mind, cultural diversity. To register, click here.
September 25-26, 2025 at Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, NM. This will be a two-day session. The topic and presenters are not yet finalized. Please check back for more information and a link to register.

2025 Problem Gambling Conference

Feb 25, 2025 | Problem Gambling Conference

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico’s annual conference on Problem Gambling brings together a diverse array of researchers and industry treatment professionals from all across North America to discuss wide-ranging topics in support of healing from problem gambling. Launched in 1998 by the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico, the conference is the first and largest conference on problem gambling in New Mexico.

The 2025 event will be held on Thursday and Friday, July 31 to August 1 as Isleta Resort and Casino. The theme is “The Intersection Between Effective Treatment and Therapist Well-Being”. Click for registration.

The conference, in the pursuit of wellness from problem gambling, covers important topics such as promising and evidence-based treatments from east to west, indigenous, and other cultural points of view, the impact of technology, brain chemistry, trauma, co-contributing mental health issues, and the role of culture in healing. See the agenda for more information. Treatment providers who attend the two-day event can receive 12 CEUs.

Join us for an engaging, two-day conference designed to tackle one of today’s most pressing issues– problem gambling. This event delivers research-driven insights and actionable strategies for professionals addressing gambling-related challenges.

Speakers and Topics scheduled for July 31-August 1 include:

Small Panel Presentation and Discussion: Sarah Nelson PhD, Harvard University and a Treatment Provider from the Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations – Building Cultures of Recovery in Tribal Communities

Heather Gray PhD, Harvard University – Gambling and Self-Harm

Noëlla Piquette, PhD, University of Lethbridge – Investigations Related to the Differences between Males and Females with Problem Gambling

Jon Grant PhD – University of Chicago – Improving Access to Care and Treatment Outcomes

Chris Willard, Harvard Medical School – The Neuroscience of Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, and Positive Psychology: Working with the Contagion of Emotional Regulation

Debra Kaplan, MA, MBA – The Power of Maladaptive Daydreaming:
Treating Fantasy in Gambling Disorder, Love and Porn Addiction

Joshua Grubbs PhD, Saul Malek, Alexander Connoly– Sports Betting Panel – Three lenses: Research and Trends, Recovering Sports
Gambler, and a Sports Bettor who Embraces Harm Reduction

More information will be added to this page as the event is finalized. For discounted hotel rooms at $144 per night (plus tax), call 877-475-3827 and use code RGA0725 or book online. Treatment providers can learn more about problem gambling and also access more information and screening tools on our site.

28th Annual Problem Gambling Conference

Feb 27, 2024 | Problem Gambling Conference

The 28th Annual RGANM Conference on Problem Gambling will focus on “Converging Paths: Culture, Spirituality, Native Ways of Healing, Brain Science, and Honoring the Elderly“. It will be held August 15-16, 2024 at the Isleta Resort & Casino near Albuquerque. Counselors and social workers will earn 12 CEUs including 6 for ethics and 6 for cultural ethics with their attendance.

Speakers scheduled to attend include:

Daniel Mate, Co-author of “The Myth of Normal”.
Jon Grant, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
Sharon Baty, PhD with a session title How Spiritual Practices May Contribute to Post-Traumatic Growth of Trauma Survivors who Struggle with Gambling and Other Addictions
Javoen Byrd and Itza on the Healing Power of Drumming
Regina Koupp, PhD on There’s No Expiration Date on Healing and Transformation: How Ageism Keeps Older Adults Out of Gambling Treatment and What You Can Do to Ensure Mental Health Access for All
Chris Anderson, LMFT – Encore; The Spirituality of Gambling Addiction
Lorenzo Jim, LPCC- Working with Native American Clients, What Therapists Need to Know

For 28 years, the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico has offered therapists from all over New Mexico to its annual conference to hear from a diverse variety of experts on, mental health, trauma, holistic healing, and recovery from problem gambling and other addictions.
This conference is both a high quality learning experience and a very affordable way to earn 12 CEUs while mingling and catching up with colleagues. Early bird registration is $59 until June 15, 2024, then will be $79.

To register, click here. If you need to be invoiced for your registrations, reach out to Kalika Valerio at kalika@theevolutiongroup.com. For purchase orders, please contact directly (505)242-6988 and ask for Extension 120. Download Agenda.

Isleta Resort & Casino is offering a discounted Room Rate for the 2024 RGANM Conference at $141.00 per night. Reservations must be made before Saturday, July 13, 2024. Book Hotel Reservations at (877)747-5382 or (505) 724-3800. You must mention the Meeting Group name: Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico, or use the Group Code: RNM0824.

2023 Problem Gambling Conference on Aug. 10-11

Apr 4, 2023 | Problem Gambling Conference

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico has scheduled its 27th annual conference on problem gambling, to be held August 10 and 11 at the Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino. The conference theme is “Supporting Today’s Therapist with their Intensifying Caseload”.

The conference will offer behavioral health providers 12 gambling-specific CEUs, including 6 ethics CEUs. To register, click here to complete an off-site registration. The fee will be $59.00 until June 15th, then $69 thereafter and can be paid with any major credit card. When the payment has processed, you’ll receive a registration confirmation letter. The fee includes the two-day conference, lunches and refreshments.

A limited number of discounted hotel rooms are available at nearby hotels. Nightly rates do not include applicable taxes and fees.

Buffalo Thunder Resort Casino, $209/night. Call 505-455-5555 or click here.
Cities of Gold Casino Hotel, $89/night. Call 505-455-4232 or click here.
The Lodge at Santa Fe, $119/night. Call 505-992-5800 or click here.

Speakers and presentations that support our treatment practices will include:

Keynote Speaker Dacher Keltner, researcher and author of the best-selling work, “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.”
Implications of Big Wins for Gambling Behavior and their Effects on Future Sports Betting with Eric R. Louderback, Ph.D.
Supporting Your Mindfulness Practice with Michelle Duval from the Mindful Center
Finding Your Best Self: Recovery from Addiction, Trauma, or Both by Lisa Najavitz and presented by Summer Krause
Micro-Dosing Assisted Treatment and Therapist Self-Care with Dr. Lida Fatemi
The Seeking Safety Adolescent Toolkit, a new work by Summer Krause
The Spirituality of Gambling Addiction with Chris Anderson
Problem Gambling, Mental Health, and Aging with Regina Koupp, Ph,D.

Questions about the conference can be directed to coordinator, Monique Smith, at 505-242-6988, Ext. 123, or msmith@theevolutiongroup.com.

Register for March 19, 2021 Gaming and Gambling Webinar

Feb 11, 2021 | Problem Gambling Conference

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico is pleased to offer the sixth webinar in our series on problem gambling. The March 19, 2021 session will focus on Beyond the Loot: The Bigger Story of Gaming and Gambling, Trauma, and the Pandemic. This interactive webinar will look at the relationship between community, gaming ecosystems, gambling, trauma, and addiction.

This webinar will be Friday, March 19, 2021 from 11am-12:30pm MST. Speakers will be Cam Adair and Daniel Blackwood.

Click here to register.

Attendees will earn 1.5 gambling-specific CEUs. Attendance is free but registration is required. Space is limited.

Daniel Blackwood, LPCC, ICGCII-BACC, CSAT, RTM, will lead a discussion on the impact of gaming with Cam Adair.

Cam is a pioneer in the world of gaming addiction, based on his personal experience and subsequent commitment to the field. Cam’s experience and background includes:

Addicted to video games for 10 years
Gamed as an escape from intense bullying, anxiety, and depression
Dropped out of high school, pretended to have jobs, wrote a suicide note
Founded GameQuitters.com to help others, it now serves 75,000 members each month in 95 countries
Named one of Canada’s Leaders in Mental Health by CAMH
Published in Psychiatry Research with Dr. Daniel King

Cam Adair spoke at the 2019 RGANM seminar, where he received rave reviews. At the time he presented on, among other information, understanding the key importance of Loot Boxes when working with clients with gaming issues. Now Cam is coming back to share about the bigger story and, together with Daniel, they will look at how this relates to trauma and the pandemic.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Learn about the many resources available at no charge through the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico.

The National Council on Problem Gambling offers a screening tool, helpful toolkits, and sample social media posts here.

2020 Webinars for New Mexico Treatment Providers

Oct 28, 2020 | Problem Gambling Conference, RGANM In The News

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico is pleased to offer two sessions in our webinar training for treatment providers. These sessions will focus on “The Key to Working with Gambling Problems: A Model of Supervision with Case Examples”.

Each session will provide 1.5 Supervision CEUs. The first webinar will be held on November 13, 2020 from 11am-12:30pm MST and will focus on the MONEY portion of gambling problems.
REGISTER HERE.

The second event, December 11, 2020 from 11am-12:30pm MST, will cover the LIES related to gambling problems.
REGISTER HERE.

Attendees will earn 1.5 Supervision CEUs for each event. Attendance is free but registration is required.

Speakers will be Chris Anderson, LMFT, ICGC-II-BACC; Chris Goodrich, PhD, LPCC, ICGC-II; and Daniel Blackwood, LPCC, ICGC-II-BACC.

We hope to resume our in-person annual conference in August 2021, but until then, we will offer an excellent lineup of speakers in online webinars.