7th Annual NCRG Conference On Gambling And Addiction Shifts Dates To Coincide With Global Gaming Expo
Conference to Explore Challenges of Translating Research into Best Practices
May 25, 2006
Washington, D.C. – The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced its 7th Annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction is shifting its dates to November to coincide with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the world’s premiere gaming event and the industry’s largest source of news, products ideas and information about what’s driving the future of gaming. Taking place Nov. 12-14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the conference will focus on the challenges involved in translating the science of gambling disorders into best practices for reducing gambling-related harms.
The goal of the date change is to increase exposure for the NCRG and the latest gambling research among G2E’s more than 26,000 attendees, as well as heighten interaction between operators and healthcare professionals, fostering a united commitment to work together to combat gambling related harms through research and education. G2E is scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“The NCRG is committed to creating science-based public education, training and program support for communities, treatment providers and the gaming industry. By aligning our event with G2E, we hope to foster a more lively exchange of ideas within the field of gambling research and, ultimately, expand the positive impact of this vital research within casino communities not only in the U.S., but around the world,” said Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG and former chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment.
This year’s conference, themed Lost in Translation? The Challenge of Turning Good Research into Best Practices, will call on members of the healthcare community, academia, the gaming industry and the public sector from around the globe to come together to focus on the myriad issues involved in translating good research into best practices, one of the key goals of the NCRG in the coming years. The event is co-sponsored by the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at the Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
“Everyone who has a stake in this industry wants to know if we are ready to take the knowledge we have gained through research, specifically over the past 10 years, and actually use it to create best practices that will help strengthen responsible gaming programs, clinical programs and methodologies, gaming regulations and public policy,” said Satre. “We think now is the time to address these challenges.”
Session topics will include discussions of cross-cultural issues in treating addiction, global approaches to responsible gaming, an analysis of the nation’s gambling helpline system, responsible gaming in cyberspace, new research on a potential genetic link for gambling disorders, a debate on the boundaries of responsible gaming, the risks of junk science to public policy and public health, and much more.
As in previous years, the conference will feature two distinct tracks. The “Scientific and Clinical” track will examine advances in research and treatment, and the “Government and Industry” track will explore practical applications for members of the gaming industry, gaming regulators, attorneys and elected officials. Conference participants will be free to attend sessions from either track, allowing individuals to select the program elements most appropriate to their needs. Plenary sessions focused on broader issues raised by viewing gambling as a public health concern also will be offered to all conference goers.
As part of the 2006 conference, the NCRG also will hold its sixth annual Scientific Achievement Awards program, which honors outstanding contributions to the study of gambling and gambling-related problems. The NCRG will distribute an international request for nominations for these prestigious awards in the near future.
To obtain more information on the NCRG’s 7th Annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, including a full program outline, visitwww.ncrg.org. Additional details and registration information will be updated on the Web site in the coming weeks.
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The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. Founded in 1996 as a separate 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG’s mission is to support peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological gambling and provide scientifically-based responsible gaming education and outreach programs to casino communities nationwide. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org.
NCRG funds provide money to researchers from around the globe to increase understanding of pathological gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. The funds are distributed through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, visitwww.divisiononaddictions.org/institute.
