As America’s foremost provider of problem gambling support services we are well aware of whenever the behavioral health crisis is discussed in pop culture. For instance, when Saturday Night Live parodied predatory sports betting advertising earlier in 2024, we were the first in our industry to respond with a summary on the skit. It’s important to do so, because while content of this nature is by no means to be taken literally and only scratches the surface on the seriousness of issues, it does reach an audience that is directly impacted by the problem gambling crisis in America. So when The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE), the most popular podcast in the world, ventures into discussion about problem gambling, even if not the direct theme of a given show, it’s worth introspection.
Joe Rogan’s podcast audience is primarily comprised of males (80%) with a majority of listeners (51%) falling within the critical 18-34 age range. This directly aligns with the population group that is most impacted by our country’s sports betting problem. It would be negligent to ignore when shows like Rogan’s touch on the concern, and dismiss what’s said because clinical definitions aren’t used or if it seems like conversations are too crass for sensitive ears. If the goal is to reach those most impacted by what’s happening in our country, it’s essential to reach them where their attention is focused. If anyone thinks this is hyperbole, please note that Rogan’s influence on male voters, for instance, is being taken very seriously:
“To describe 2024 as the first podcast election would be an exaggeration. But not, I think, much of one. Podcasts have exploded in popularity even since the last American election and are now perhaps the most formidable and underrated force in the new online media […] Rogan, 57, is the founder and the king of this world of male podcasters. The extent of his influence can scarcely be overstated. His show is downloaded 200 million times a month. It is the most popular podcast not only in America but also in Britain.”
(How Joe Rogan helped Donald Trump to win America | TIME Magazine)
If Rogan indeed swayed opinions on the presidential election, perhaps the same can be said for when he (and others with similar influence) speak up to recognize the dangers of gambling. This leads us to a JRE episode that streamed on YouTube earlier this week. Joe invited the “Dark Queen of Comedy” Adrienne Lapalucci onto his show. During the more than two-and-a-half hour episode, the topic of problem gambling came up. Lapalucci opened up about how it had an impact on her upbringing. True to form (as a comedian) her accounting was peppered with wisecracks, but it was clear that trauma was omnipresent. Further, Rogan expressed his own opinions about the issue, which wasn’t the first time he did so on his podcast. He even called out his good friend Dana White (who we have identified before) of the UFC as being a “gambling addict”.
In response to this recent episode, we have selected a number of 60-second clips to provide anyone from the audience who happens to find this article with added context and insight. Sure, some may find the manner of which Rogan and Lapalucci speak on the topic uncomfortable, but these aren’t the ones being targeted by a crisis that is ravaging young adult males of America. And that, is who we’re here to support.
Disclaimer: Clips from the show below feature a conversation between two comedians who offer their own experiences with problem gamblers. If you are averse to potentially crude language and sarcastic humor, the clips below may not be for you.
Kindbridge Responds to Joe Rogan and Comedian Adrienne Lapalucci’s Discussion About Problem Gambling
THE IMPACT OF GAMBLING ON FAMILIES
“My dad used to take me to Off Track Betting as a kid […] For awhile my dad was taking money from his pension, so when he died there was really not that much money. My mom was forcing him to go to Gambler’s Anonymous, while he was also still gambling.”
In the clips above and below, Lapalucci discusses how her father exposed her and her sister to his compulsion and inappropriate gambling environments early in their adolescence. This sort of thing can cause forms of trauma that reverberate into adulthood. In addition, the concept of how compulsive gamblers spend beyond their means and end up in inevitable debt (causing further family harm) is explored.
CHASING LOSSES, CHASING THE FEELING
“It’s just the feeling. There’s nothing that replicates that feeling that you get when you’re winning or losing”
What Rogan and Lapalucci are discussing above, is the research backed fact that losing can trigger a release of dopamine to almost the same extent as winning. It’s the “gambler’s high” that explains why those with a problematic relationship with the activity keep going until they lose, and repeat the process all over again.
OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING AND/OR GENETICS?
“My grandmother was like a big gambler, and she also didn’t have money […] She would lose the money all the time, like the rent money.”
The reveal that Lapalucci’s grandmother, who preceded her father, had a gambling problem brings to light factors that are correlated to the development of problem gambling. For one, research confirms that genetic factors do play a role in the development of problematic gambling behavior. Secondly, is the concept of observational learning. Observational learning in adolescence describes the process where children learn by watching others (i.e. parental figures), then retain the information, and later replicate the behaviors that were observed unless some sort of awakening or intervention takes place. View more on the risks associated with being born into a gambling family.
Did any of the clips or commentary above connect to anything that you may be feeling and experiencing when it comes to gambling? Do you (or loved one) struggle with casino gaming or sports betting? Reach out via the contacts provided below to get help.
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