Shane W. Kraus

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Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Director, UNLV Behavioral Addictions Lab

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, UNLV School of Medicine

Expertise: Addiction, Substance Use, Gambling, Veteran Mental Health, Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Psychopathology

Biography

Shane W. Kraus is a licensed clinical psychologist and expert in psychopathology (the study of mental or behavioral disorders), sexual trauma, substance use disorders, gambling disorders, addictions, and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD).

An associate professor of psychology, Kraus uses behavioral, epidemiological, and neurobiological methods to assess factors that contribute to the development of addictive behaviors and other co-occurring psychiatric disorders among at-risk groups.

He has published extensively on sexual behavior and was part of the World Health Organization working group who put forth the diagnostic criteria for CSBD for ICD-11. His gambling research is also exploring effective screening approaches for identifying individuals with problem gambling.

Education

B.S. Criminology, California State University, Fresno (2003)
M.A. Forensic Psychology, Castleton University (2007)
PHD Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University (2013)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry (2016)

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Shane W. Kraus In The News

5 Signs You May Be Addicted to Gambling

AARP

With more older adults engaging in sports betting and other types of gambling, here are some warning signs that your gambling habit is turning into a problem.

Active Duty Members, Veterans, and Gambling Harms | Dr. Shane Kraus

Wager Danger

November is Veterans and Military Family appreciation month, so we're having an in-depth conversation with Dr. Shane Kraus, associate professor at UNLV, about his research on gambling disorder among military veterans and active-duty service members. Dr. Kraus discusses the high rates of co-occurring mental health issues, including PTSD and suicide, the presence of slot machines on overseas military bases, and the urgent need for early screening and intervention. Learn about the policy changes and resources that could help service members struggling with gambling-related harm.

Episode 34: Understanding Gambling Addiction and High-Risk Populations

Double Down Michigan: A Podcast by the Michigan Gaming Control Board

What drives someone to take a chance—and when does that risk turn into harm? In this episode of Double Down Michigan, MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams talks with Dr. Shane Kraus, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Kraus shares insights from his research on gambling disorder, addictive behaviors, and mental health among high-risk populations such as U.S. military veterans and young adults. Together, they explore the science behind gambling addiction, the challenges of treatment and prevention, and what regulators, clinicians, and communities can do to protect people from gambling-related harm.

How Online Sports Betting Is Fueling a New Wave of Addiction