Greg and Dan talk to Hailey Lipps, Behavioral Health Provider at OSF, about gambling addiction -- what it looks like, how it develops, and how to recognize when “just for fun” starts becoming something harmful. Hailey explains the warning signs, including when gambling begins impacting finances, relationships, emotions, and daily behavior, and breaks down the psychology behind addiction, such as getting stuck in mental “loops” driven by anticipation, hope, and the belief that “next time I’ll win.”

She also talks about how gambling becomes a compulsion rather than entertainment, what she does to help those who’ve lost everything to addiction, and how people can build healthy coping skills to manage stress, uncertainty, and emotional triggers in safer ways.