8th Annual NCRG Conference To Examine Conventional Wisdom About Gambling Disorders And Recovery
World Renowned Researchers to Present Latest Findings; Conference to Coincide with Global Gaming Expo
May 16, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC:The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced that its 8th Annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction will examine the “conventional wisdom” surrounding gambling disorders to separate fact from fiction in the search for concrete, research-based solutions to prevent and treat gambling-related disorders. The event, to be held Nov. 11-13 at the Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will bring together renowned researchers, clinicians, regulators, policy-makers and industry representatives to discuss groundbreaking advancements related to gambling disorders and to help determine the best way to adapt these findings into practical, real-world applications.
The theme of the conference –Responsible Gaming, Regulation and Recovery: Testing Conventional Wisdom– reflects the growing need to scrutinize responsible gaming practices, public health policies, regulations, and strategies for recovery, which often are founded on conventional wisdom rather than scientific evidence, by examining the latest research results in this field.
“By testing conventional wisdom, we can make certain to use solid scientific evidence to support and develop the most effective prevention, treatment, and public education programs to address disordered gambling,” said Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG and former chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. “The NCRG always has been committed to supporting peer-reviewed, independent research about gambling disorders because research-based solutions ensure long-term, proven effectiveness. This conference brings together the members of all the groups who are affected by this issue.”
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, the NCRG conference will once again coincide with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the gaming industry’s largest international trade show and conference, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center November 13-15.
NCRG conference sessions will feature panels of leading experts from academia, the health care sector, government, and the gaming industry. Sessions will explore topics including why people don’t always seek treatment, whether exposure to new gambling leads to gambling problems, the latest research on drug treatments for gambling disorders and risks for older adults who gamble. Other topics include public health policy, the use of traditional medicine to treat addiction in Native American communities, innovative approaches such as gambling court, the potential for warning messages on gaming machines, and the 50thanniversary of Gamblers Anonymous.
As in years past, the conference will feature two distinct tracks focusing on issues of particular interest to the scientific and clinical communities as well as practical applications for members of the gaming industry, gaming regulators, attorneys, and elected officials. Plenary sessions will focus on issues of broader concern such as the direction of public policy on gambling.
G2E also is strengthening its ties with this year’s NCRG event, as the final morning of the NCRG conference will bring attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center where “NCRG at G2E” sessions will be featured as part of G2E’s new corporate social responsibility track. NCRG-sponsored sessions will focus on responsible gaming and its impact on the casino floor; an insiders glance at EMERGE, a science-based employee training program; and new developments in gambling litigation. The sessions will be open to all G2E and NCRG conference attendees. Additionally, NCRG conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a special tour of the G2E trade show floor.
“The NCRG conference is the only gathering of its kind that brings together casino operators, researchers, and health care professionals in a setting where they can learn from each others’ experiences,” said Dr. Howard Shaffer, director of the Division on Addictions. “And, in the process, attendees will gain a keener awareness of the critical role research and responsible gaming education can play in preventing and addressing gambling disorders, not only on the casino floor, but in our communities as well.”
As part of the 2007 conference, the NCRG also will present its annual Scientific Achievement Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the study of gambling-related disorders. The NCRG will distribute an international request for nominations for these awards in the near future.
To obtain more information on the NCRG’s 8th Annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction visitwww.ncrg.org.
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The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorders by supporting the finest peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological and youth gambling; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about responsible gaming. The NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org.
NCRG funds provide grants to researchers 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.
