NCRG Conference On Gambling And Addiction To Examine Effects Of Economic Challenges On Research, Treatment And Responsible Gaming

Nov 10, 2009

LAS VEGAS—The 10thannual National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) Conference on Gambling and Addiction will explore how the economic downturn is affecting scientific research, treatment and recovery, and responsible gaming programs, as well as new findings in exciting areas of addiction research.

WHAT:“Money, Money, Money: Current Issues Affecting Research, Recovery and Responsible Gaming,” co-sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, in partnership with the NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at the University of Minnesota and Yale University. Highlights of the conference include sessions on:

  • Demystifying slot machines and their relationship to addiction
  • Helping individuals with gambling disorders create financial health
  • Strategies for addressing problem gambling in the workplace
  • Why gamblers with problems don’t seek help
  • How the human brain shapes decision-making
  • The writer of “America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life”
  • Separating fact from fiction regarding Native Americans and problem gambling

WHEN:Sunday, Nov. 15 – Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

WHERE:Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas (Nov. 15-16)
Las Vegas Convention Center (Nov. 17), in conjunction with Global Gaming Expo (G2E)

WHO:Participants include leaders in the research, treatment, public health, public policy and gaming industry sectors, as well as members of the national Task Force on College Gambling Policies. Featured speakers include:

  • Glenn C. Christenson, chairman, NCRG
  • Dr. Jon Grant, University of Minnesota
  • Dr. Marc Potenza, Yale University
  • Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author, “America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life”
  • Dr. Scott Huettel, Duke University
  • Jennifer Shatley, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

To register for the conference, receive a full schedule of conference events and to schedule interviews, please contact Veronica Brown at 202-530-4526 orvbrown@ncrg.org. While the conference is in progress Nov. 15-17, please contact Brian Lehman on-site at 202-641-0982. A conference schedule also is available on the NCRG’s Web site,www.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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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NCRG Honors David Hodgins With 2010 Scientific Achievement Award

Hodgins Recognized for His Exceptional Work in the Field of Gambling Disorders

Nov 15, 2010

LAS VEGAS—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) has named David C. Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the department of psychology at the University of Calgary and institute node coordinator for the University of Calgary, Alberta Gaming Research Institute, the recipient of the 2010 Scientific Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of disordered gambling research.

“The NCRG is proud to present this award to Dr. Hodgins for his work on various aspects of recovery from gambling-related problems,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “He has been at the forefront of finding effective recovery methods and treatments for gambling disorders, and his research and theoretical contributions have stimulated the gambling field.”

Hodgins’ work focuses on three interrelated lines of cutting-edge research in the area of gambling disorders—natural history research, the design and evaluation of brief interventions, and the study of the precipitants of relapse to problem gambling. His work on natural recovery is widely cited and provides insight into the process of untreated remissions from gambling problems. His research on brief treatment interventions is recognized around the world and is listed as an evidence-based treatment by the U.S. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. Hodgins’ third area of gambling research focuses on relapse to gambling problems, in which he developed and evaluated relapse prevention materials for clinical use. A 1999 grant from the National Center for Responsible Gaming supported his research on relapse.

Hodgins has published more than 100 articles in prestigious scientific journals, and has authored and co-authored a number of books and book chapters. These include Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Problem and Pathological Gambling (Guilford, 2008), Research and Measurement Issues in Gambling Studies (Elsevier, 2007), and Promoting Self-change from Problem Substance Use: Practical Implications for Policy, Prevention and Treatment (Kluwer, 2001).

“Dr. Hodgins has a distinguished career, and his work has impacted both the theory of pathological gambling and practice of gambling treatment,” said John A. Cunningham, Ph.D., senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and professor in the departments of psychology and of public health sciences at the University of Toronto. “Dr. Hodgins has produced a significant and enduring legacy that is worthy of recognition through this prestigious scientific achievement award.”

The award will be presented at a luncheon on Nov. 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino during the 11th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. The conference is sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders in partnership with the Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at the University of Minnesota and Yale University.

Recipients of the Scientific Achievement Award are selected by an independent committee of distinguished leaders in the field of addictions and gambling research. Members of the 2010 committee include Jon E. Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H., professor of psychiatry, University of Minnesota; Rina Gupta, Ph.D., assistant professor in school/applied child psychology, McGill University; Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology, Laval University; Craig Nagoshi, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Arizona State University; and Harold Wynne, Ph.D., president, Wynne Resources.

Previous recipients of the NCRG’s Scientific Achievement Award include Alex Blaszczynski, Ph.D.; Renee Cunningham-Williams, Ph.D., M.P.E., L.C.S.W.; Robert Custer, M.D.; Jon E. Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H.; Rina Gupta, Ph.D.; Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D.; Nancy Petry, Ph.D.; Marc N. Potenza, M.D., Ph.D.; Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D., C.A.S.; Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.; and Suck Won Kim, M.D.

To obtain additional information on the NCRG’s conference, visit www.ncrg.org. To obtain press credentials for events related to the conference, or to arrange interviews with conference participants or Dr. Hodgins, contact Dan Doherty at 202-776-7388 orddoherty@ncrg.org. While the conference is in progress Nov. 14-16, please contact Julie Carlson on-site at 908-872-7230.

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NCRG Launches Nation's First Centers Of Excellence In Gambling Research At Yale And University Of Minnesota

Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders to Oversee New Centers

May 14, 2009

WASHINGTON—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced the creation of the nation’s first NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at Yale University and the University of Minnesota. The Centers of Excellence will employ a long-term, institutional approach to conducting innovative and multidisciplinary research and education programs about gambling disorders. The research grants for the Centers of Excellence were awarded and will be managed by the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG formerly known as the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders.

“In 1996, the NCRG launched the first competitive grants program in the U.S. to fund research into gambling disorders, so the creation of the new Centers of Excellence is consistent with the organization’s pioneering legacy of supporting the highest-quality research in this field,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “This marks a true evolution in our approach to funding research, one we are confident will contribute to seminal findings on gambling disorders in the years ahead.”

To date, the NCRG has supported research on gambling disorders primarily through a long-term, grant to the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance totaling more than $7 million since 1996 and through smaller project-based grants to researchers around the world. These projects will continue to receive funding from the NCRG. The creation of the Centers of Excellence marks an expanded commitment by the NCRG and the Institute to advance research on gambling disorders by increasing the number of institutions that receive significant, multiyear grants and promoting sustained and collaborative research on gambling disorders.

“We are entering a new era in the field of gambling research, in large part thanks to the significant, groundbreaking work conducted by Dr. Howard Shaffer and his research team at the Division on Addictions. After more than a decade of grant-making and the considerable progress that has been made in the study of gambling disorders during that time, it is clear to us that supporting long-term, multidisciplinary research is a critical component to advancing the field,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders. “We are proud to support the new Centers of Excellence in addition to our ongoing support of the Division on Addictions, the competitive grants program and a variety of education efforts to increase understanding of gambling disorders.”

The Centers of Excellence were chosen by an independent panel of peer reviewers. Each Center will receive a three-year grant for a total of $402,500 to perform the proposed research. The multidisciplinary research program at each Center of Excellence will focus on basic questions about gambling addiction and be directed by a principal investigator who is a recognized expert in the field of gambling disorders.

Led by Dr. Marc Potenza, the Center at Yale University will examine the various factors that influence treatment of gambling disorders. The investigators will conduct a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to investigate whether the drug naltrexone will be effective in a “real-world” clinical setting. The Center at the University of Minnesota, under the leadership of Dr. Jon Grant, will develop a model of impulsivity that will enable the identification of young adults at risk for developing pathological gambling. Understanding who is susceptible and why will help lead to effective interventions for prevention and treatment. In addition, both Centers will conduct innovative, science-based public education programs.

The Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders is charged with all of the grant-making responsibilities for the NCRG. In addition to acquiring a new name, the Institute recently moved from its home at Cambridge Health Alliance to an independent office in Beverly, Mass., to provide more comprehensive oversight of the grants to the Centers of Excellence and the Division on Addictions, as well as independent project grants awarded to researchers throughout the world. Executive Director Christine Reilly previously served as the executive director of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders from 2000 through March 2009, and as executive director of the NCRG from 1997 through 2000.

More information about the new NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research is available on the Institute’s Web site:www.gamblingdisorders.org.

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NCRG Launches Website To Help Address Gambling On College Campuses

CollegeGambling.org Offers Tools and Resources for Campus Officials, Parents & Students

Mar 29, 2011

WASHINGTON–The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) announced today that it has launched a new website,www.CollegeGambling.org, to help colleges and universities address gambling and gambling-related harms on campus. The first site of its kind, CollegeGambling.org brings together the latest research and best practices in responsible gaming and the field of addiction awareness and prevention to provide a substantive and versatile resource that will help schools and their students address this issue in the way best suited to each school.

“There is a distinct need for sound, science-based policies and programs about gambling and gambling disorders on college campuses,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “As the only national organization exclusively devoted to public education and funding research of gambling disorders, the NCRG is committed to helping schools inform students about the risks of gambling disorders and provide recovery-oriented measures.”

Research finds that 75 percent of college students gambled during the past year (whether legally or illegally, on campus or off). While the vast majority of those old enough to legally gamble can do so responsibly, the most recent research estimates that 6 percent of college students in the U.S. have a serious gambling problem that can result in psychological difficulties, unmanageable debt and failing grades. For those who are not of legal age to gamble, there is no level of responsible gambling.

College students appear to mature out of gambling problems, as they do with alcohol and drug use, after college. This is evidenced by the fact that only 1 percent of the adult population has a gambling disorder in the U.S. Still, addressing gambling on college campuses should be a priority.

“Nearly all U.S. colleges and universities have policies on student alcohol use; however, only 22 percent have a formal policy on gambling,” said Pat Ketcham, Ph.D., CHES, associate director of health promotion for Oregon State University’s Student Health Services and chair of the CollegeGambling.org advisory committee. “Students who admit to having a gambling problem sometimes find a lack of support on campus. CollegeGambling.org is a great resource because it not only suggests program ideas to help integrate information on college gambling into existing drug and alcohol programs, but it also directly reaches students who want to learn more these issues.”

CollegeGambling.org is a comprehensive resource for students, campus administrators, campus health professionals and parents. In addition to providing those who are concerned about a gambling problem with resources to find help, the website includes separate sections for each of these audiences, and content is tailored to address the needs, questions and concerns of each of these groups.

Additionally, CollegeGambling.org offers collateral materials, such as brochures about college gambling and responsible gambling, fact sheets, posters, and stickers, that can be downloaded for free to help raise awareness about gambling and gambling disorders on campus.

“CollegeGambling.org isn’t just about helping college students with gambling problems—it’s also about helping them avoid the problems,” said Christine Reilly, senior research director of the NCRG. “Education is the key to this mission. Educating students about warning signs and giving them the tools to learn about responsible gaming will help them develop healthy behaviors that they can carry with them further into adulthood.”

The development of CollegeGambling.org was guided by an Advisory Committee of leading scientists, clinicians and student life experts. The NCRG has relied on the Advisory Committee to help ensure the materials created for the site are firmly grounded in the highest-quality research on these issues and will be effective for the intended audiences. Members of the Advisory Committee include: Patricia Ketcham (chair), Ph.D., CHES, Oregon State University; Keith J. Anderson, Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Carlos Blanco, Ph.D., Columbia University; William DeJong, Ph.D., Boston University School of Public Health; Jeff Derevensky, Ph.D., McGill University; Mary Anne Nagy, MBA, Monmouth University; and Ryan Travia, M.Ed., Harvard University.

CollegeGambling.org builds on the recommendations of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies, which provide schools with a roadmap for reducing gambling among students and enabling those who are struggling with addiction to participate more fully in college life. Visit thewww.ncrg.orgto view the Task Force’s “Call to Action” report.

CollegeGambling.org has been endorsed by several members of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies, including: Stacy Andes, MA, ABD, Villanova University; Ann Bailey, Ph.D., Mississippi State University; Bo Bernhard, Ph.D., University of Nevada; Madalyn Eadline, Lehigh University; Patricia Ketcham, Ph.D., CHES, Oregon State University; Ryan Martin, Ph.D., The Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Affiliate; Sally J. Morgan, MA, University of Nevada; and Kristy Wanner, Med, University of Missouri-Columbia.

For more information about college gambling, visitwww.CollegeGambling.org. To learn more about the NCRG and its programs, visitwww.ncrg.org.

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The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is is the only national organization exclusively devoted to public education and funding research that will help 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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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NCRG Nearly Doubles Funding Of Research For Gambling Disorders In 2011

Grants totaling $700,000 will support high-quality scientific research

Jan 27, 2011

WASHINGTON—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced it has allocated more than $700,000 – nearly twice the amount funded in 2010 – for grants in support of research on the prevention and treatment of gambling disorders. The grants will be awarded in five categories: Exploration Grants (up to $10,000 for one year), Seed Grants (up to $25,000 for one year), Large Grants (up to $75,000 per year for two years), Early Stage Investigator Grants (up to $65,000 for two years), and Postdoctoral Fellowship (up to $43,000 for one year). Additionally, a request for applications (RFA) for research to develop and test an online screening and brief intervention tool for college students has been announced for 2011.

“The NCRG is pleased to be in a position to offer such a significant increase in research grants that will allow for a better understanding of the drivers behind gambling disorders,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, which coordinates the NCRG’s grants program. “Today’s announcement is another demonstration of our continued commitment to build on our successful grants program and to support the high-quality scientific research that plays a significant role in preventing, diagnosing and treating gambling disorders. Cultivating the next generation of gambling researchers is also vital to the success of our mission, and is the reason we’ve added two career development awards for 2011.”

The NCRG’s competitive project grants program allows investigators from around the world to apply for funding for specific research projects. The NCRG is committed to a multi-disciplinary approach and, therefore, welcomes applications from investigators in psychology, psychiatry, epidemiology, public health, sociology, economics, neuroscience and other relevant disciplines. Priority will be given to projects focused on prevention and treatment of gambling disorders. Grants are available in the following categories:

Exploration Grants

TheExploration Grantsprogram provides quick access to funding for researchers. Applicants may request up to $10,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 12 months. Applications are due April 1, 2011.

Seed Grants

TheSeed Grantsprogram supports small research projects that can be completed in one year. Applicants may request up to $25,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 12 months. Applications are due May 2, 2011.

Large Grants

TheLarge Grantsprogram provides up to two years of support for discrete, specified, circumscribed research projects related to gambling disorders. Applicants may request up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for a period not to exceed 24 months. Letters of intent are due July 1, 2011, and full applications are due Sept. 1, 2011.

Early Stage Investigator Grants

TheEarly Stage Investigator Grantsprogram is intended to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available to address the research needs of the field of gambling disorders. Eligible applicants are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or within 10 years of completing medical residency. Applicants may request up to $65,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 24 months. Letters of Intent are due July 1, 2011, and full applications are due Sept. 1, 2011.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

ThePostdoctoral Fellowship Grantis intended to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available to address the research needs of the field of gambling disorders. Eligible applicants are within five years of completing their terminal research degree or within five years of completing medical residency. Applicants may request up to $43,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 12 months. Applications are due April 1, 2011.

Request for Applications: Online Screening and Brief Intervention for Gambling-Related Problems among College Students

The NCRG and the Institute seek grant applications to develop and test anonline screening and brief intervention (SBI)aimed at preventing and/or reducing gambling-related problems among college students. The objective of this RFA is to support an SBI that will help college students assess their own gambling behaviors to determine if their gambling is likely to be harming their health or increasing their risk for future harm. Applicants may request up to $100,000 per year in direct costs for an 18-month period. Letters of intent are due March 1, 2011, and full applications are due April 1, 2011.

Beyond its project grants program, the NCRG continues to support its Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research through multiyear research grants. Established in 2009, the NCRG Centers of Excellence employ a long-term, institutional approach to conducting innovative and multidisciplinary research and education. Currently, NCRG Centers of Excellence are located at the University of Minnesota and Yale University, and each of these institutions has been awarded $402,500 over a three-year period.

All research proposals are reviewed byindependent peer-review panelsof distinguished scientists in the field to ensure that only the highest quality research is funded. Final funding decisions are made by the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Board. The Institute follows the National Institutes of Health in its criteria for scientific merit and peer review procedures.

For more information on the NCRG’s grants program, visit the Institute’s website atwww.gamblingdisorders.org/project-grants.

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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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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NCRG Webinar Series To Tackle Current Issues In Treatment, Research And Prevention Of Gambling Disorders

First Sessions to Highlight Effective Treatment Strategies, College Gambling Policies

Jul 30, 2009

WASHINGTON—Addiction treatment professionals, scientific researchers, gaming industry representatives, legislators and regulators will have a new resource for practical learning about gambling disorders and responsible gaming with the Aug. 27 launch of the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s (NCRG) new webinar series. The NCRG Webinar Series will provide year-round educational opportunities designed to help individuals better understand and address critical issues related to gambling disorders and responsible gaming.

“With the NCRG Webinar Series, the NCRG is expanding its commitment to advancing public education about gambling disorders and responsible gaming by providing unique learning opportunities throughout the year for stakeholders in various sectors,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “We expect these expert-led sessions will attract individuals from across the U.S. and around the world who want to keep up with the latest developments as they are happening and hear about best practices and real-world solutions they can apply in their own work.”

Created in conjunction with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the NCRG Webinar Series will bring together the field’s leading experts to tackle current issues in the treatment, research, responsible gaming and regulatory communities.

The first webinar, “Treating Pathological Gambling with Motivational Interviewing and CBT: A Webinar for Addiction Professionals,” will focus on treatment strategies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that have been effective for people seeking to recover from substance use disorders and discuss whether these strategies have a place in the treatment of gambling disorders. The webinar will feature two leading researchers – David Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary; and David M. Ledgerwood, Ph.D., assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Moderated by Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, the session will be held Aug. 27 from 2-3 p.m. EDT.

On Oct. 22, the second installment of the NCRG Webinar Series will focus on new discoveries in the field of youth and college gambling. This session will feature the findings and recommendations of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies, a national task force of college administrators and health professionals convened by the Division on Addictions at the Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, to create detailed recommendations for adopting science-based gambling policies at higher education institutions across the country. The project was sponsored by the NCRG.

To ensure the webinar series reaches the broadest possible audience, the NCRG is offering the sessions free-of-charge. In addition, with the series being co-sponsored by the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, individuals participating in each one-hour webinar will receive CEU credit.

For more information about the NCRG Webinar Series, and to register for upcoming sessions, visitwww.ncrg.org.

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NCRG’S 10th Annual Conference To Explore How Fiscal Issues Are Affecting Research, Recovery And Treatment

Presentations to Feature New Research and Best Practices by Leading Experts; Conference to Coincide with Global Gaming Expo

May 27, 2009

WASHINGTON—For its 10thannual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced it will focus on an issue that is at the heart of any discussion about gambling disorders – money. From how gamblers make decisions related to financial risk and debt to how the current fiscal crisis is impacting gambling behavior, treatment funding and industry responsible gaming initiatives, money is a key component in the study, prevention and treatment of gambling disorders. The event is scheduled for Nov. 15-17, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2009 conference – themed “Money, Money, Money: Current Issues Affecting Research, Recovery and Responsible Gaming” – will bring together the world’s leading addiction scientists, clinicians and academics with health care professionals, gaming industry representatives, government officials and regulators to discuss the most pressing issues in the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming.

“For 10 years, the NCRG Conference has provided a unique forum where the various stakeholders in the field of gambling disorders come together to discuss the latest research, share best practices and explore real-world applications for new scientific findings,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “Now, during one of the most financially challenging times this field has seen, the NCRG’s support is critical to the advancement of research in the field, as well as the real-world practices of prevention, treatment and responsible gaming initiatives.”

The conference will be presented by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders in partnership with the NCRG Centers of Excellence at the University of Minnesota and Yale University.

Keynoting this year’s event will be Benoit Lewis-Denizet, author of the critically acclaimedAmerica Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life, which includes the story of an individual suffering with a gambling disorder among its profiles of eight people struggling with different addictions.

Sessions at the 2009 conference will explore new research on decision-making and informed choice; integrating financial management into treatment for disordered gamblers; the impact of the recession on government and industry-sponsored efforts to reduce gambling-related harms; new research about compulsive shopping and more.

Beyond the financial realm, attendees will learn about a variety of current issues in the field. Sessions will feature new research on why people with gambling disorders don’t seek treatment; new challenges for the research community; and how innovative monitoring of therapists is improving the performance of health care providers in the addictions field, among other topics.

The 10thannual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction will continue its partnership with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the premier gaming industry trade show and conference event, to make essential information about gambling disorders available to a wider audience. The final day of sessions for the NCRG conference will be held at G2E 2009, scheduled for Nov. 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This year’s NCRG at G2E sessions, part of G2E’s corporate social responsibility conference track, will highlight how to operate an effective responsible gaming program on a budget, discuss perceptions of gaming and tribal communities, and explore the controversy over whether gaming machines influence gambling disorders.

“Understanding the gambler’s relationship with money is essential to understanding how gambling can become an addiction, and money-related issues also have a real, tangible impact on the ability of states, treatment providers, the gaming industry and others to address gambling-related harms,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders. “By offering a comprehensive presentation of how these and other current issues are affecting the field through the insights of a wide range of experts, the NCRG Conference will provide attendees with essential information and resources to help them in their pursuits to address gambling disorders.”

As part of the 2009 conference, the NCRG will present its annual Scientific Achievement Awards, which recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the study of gambling-related disorders. An international request for nominations for these awards will be issued this summer.

More information about the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, as well as other educational resources, is available on the NCRG’s Web site (www.ncrg.org).

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NCRG’S 11th Annual Conference To Focus On Redefining Diagnosis, Treatment, Research And Responsible Gaming For The 21st Century

Presentations to Feature New Research and Best Practices by Leading Experts; Conference to Coincide with Global Gaming Expo

May 4, 2010

WASHINGTON—For its 11thannual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced it will take a close look at how new research is redefining how we diagnose, treat, study and prevent gambling disorders, and the implications these changes have for responsible gaming programs. The event is scheduled for Nov. 14-16, 2010 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 2010 conference—themed “Redefining Diagnosis, Treatment Research and Responsible Gaming for the 21stCentury”—will bring together the world’s leading addiction scientists, clinicians and academics with health care professionals, gaming industry representatives, government officials and regulators to discuss the most pressing issues in the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming. The conference will be presented by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders in partnership with the NCRG Centers of Excellence at the University of Minnesota and Yale University.

“For a decade, the NCRG Conference has provided a unique forum where the various stakeholders in the field of gambling disorders come together to discuss the latest research, share best practices and explore real-world applications for new scientific findings,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. “This year we will review recent developments in the diagnostic, treatment and research fields with an eye on how the progress made can be applied to developing the most effective prevention and responsible gaming initiatives.”

Sessions at the 2010 conference will examine a variety of compelling issues and topics including the proposed changes to the diagnosis of pathological gambling in theDSM-Vand their implications for treatment providers, researchers and policymakers. Other sessions will explore new approaches for studying and treating minority populations, using Motivational Interviewing for treatment of disordered gambling, the implications of new gambling technology, fresh ideas for implementing responsible gaming policies in new gaming jurisdictions and much more.

In addition, the NCRG Conference is introducing new breakout sessions this year, which will provide interactive small-group learning opportunities for conference attendees. Workshop sessions will look at public policies on responsible gambling; provide for a discussion of the adolescent brain and the implications for addiction; and review how colleges, communities and gaming operators are coming together to reduce problem gambling on campuses; among other topics.

The 11thannual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction will continue its partnership with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the premier gaming industry trade show and conference event, to make essential information about gambling disorders available to a wider audience. The final day of sessions for the NCRG Conference will be held at G2E 2010, scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. These “NCRG at G2E sessions” are part of G2E’s corporate social responsibility conference track and this year will highlight elements of effective responsible gaming strategies, the effectiveness of self-exclusion programs, responsible gaming in the remote gambling arena, and how a revised definition of pathological gambling could impact the gaming industry.

“The addictions field is on the cusp of historic change with the proposed changes to theDSM-V, and bringing together these various groups from the scientific, treatment, government and industry communities to share knowledge about important developments in the field is essential to ensuring we can effectively understand and address gambling-related harms,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders. “By offering a comprehensive presentation of how these and other current issues are affecting the field through the insights of a wide range of experts, the NCRG Conference will provide attendees with essential information and resources to help them in their pursuits to address gambling disorders.”

As part of the 2010 conference, the NCRG will present its annual Scientific Achievement Awards, which recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the study of gambling-related disorders. An international request for nominations for these awards will be issued this summer.

More information about the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction is available on the NCRG’s website (www.ncrg.org). To stay up-to-date on year-round educational opportunities and the latest news and issues in the field, visit the Institute’s blog – Gambling Disorders 360° – and connect with the NCRG on Facebook.

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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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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New NCRG Publication Highlights Latest Research On Self-exclusion Programs And Disordered Gambling

Oct 12, 2010

WASHINGTON—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today released the fifth volume ofIncreasing the Odds: A Series Dedicated to Understanding Gambling Disorders, which evaluates self-exclusion programs as an intervention for disordered gambling. The NCRG released this new publication in conjunction with the 2010 IAGA/IAGR International Conference in Washington, D.C., and distributed it to international gaming regulators who attended a session on the importance of using science to guide the development of effective gaming regulation around the world. The NCRG’s monograph series provides easy-to-understand summaries of seminal peer-reviewed research on gambling disorders, as well as implications for future research and prevention efforts.

Self-exclusion programs are a form of help-seeking behavior that provides gamblers an opportunity to voluntarily limit their access to gambling venues. The gamblers pledge to stay out of participating casinos for an agreed time period, often for the rest of their lives. The findings presented in this publication can be used by regulators, policymakers and gaming industry representatives to shape the development and implementation of new and existing programs, leading to more effective results that may help individuals who want to stop or reduce their gambling activities.

‘Despite the increase in these programs, self-exclusion is still a relatively new focus in the field of research on responsible gaming and disordered gambling,’ said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the NCRG. ‘However, the pool of research published in peer-reviewed journals is growing, and the NCRG is pleased to bring this research beyond the scientific arena and to the public. This new publication is evidence of our continued commitment to advancing the field and serving as a primary source for information on gambling disorders.’

The publication includes research summaries from Helen Suurvali, B.A., on what motivates gamblers to seek help and change their behavior; Richard A. LaBrie, Ed.D., on how self-exclusion programs can inform public health strategies; Sarah E. Nelson, Ph.D., on the role of the Missouri Voluntary Exclusion Program in changing participants’ gambling behavior; and Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., on early benefits to gamblers through self-exclusion and testing improvements in a self-exclusion program. The publication also features commentary from Kevin Mullally, general counsel and director of government affairs at Gaming Laboratories International and the author of the first state self-exclusion program implemented in the United States, as well as an appendix outlining self-exclusion programs in the United States and in select international jurisdictions.

A downloadable copy of Increasing the Odds is available on the NCRG website. The first four volumes of the series, which address topics such as youth and gambling, the various aspects of gambling addition recovery and gambling and public health, are also available on the website. To request a hard copy of the fifth volume ofIncreasing the Odds, please contact Dan Doherty at 202-776-7388 orddoherty@ncrg.org.

The NCRG’s 2010 annual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, scheduled for Nov. 14-16, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center, will feature a session on self-exclusion programs.  The 2010 conference, themed ‘Redefining Diagnosis, Treatment Research and Responsible Gaming for the 21stCentury,’ will bring together the world’s leading addiction scientists, clinicians and academics with health care professionals, gaming industry representatives, government officials and regulators to discuss the most pressing issues in the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming. To register for the 2010 conference, 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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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New Recommendations For College Gambling Policies Will Help Fill Tremendous Void

Recommendations of Task Force on College Gambling Policies Focus on Recovery, On-Campus Restrictions and Special Events

Sep 29, 2009

WASHINGTON—For the nearly 80 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. without a written policy on gambling, the release today of official recommendations from the national Task Force on College Gambling Policies will provide a solid, science-based framework that higher education institutions can use to fill this void. The task force was created by the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and funded by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

“Research has shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, which is coordinating the distribution of the recommendations report. “We hope that the recommendations in this report will stimulate dialogue on college and university campuses about ways to integrate efforts to reduce gambling problems into existing programs focused on addictive behaviors.”

The task force was created after findings from an NCRG-funded study on gambling and alcohol policies at U.S. colleges and universities showed that while all schools in the study had student alcohol policies, only 22 percent had written policies on gambling. The study was conducted by Howard Shaffer and colleagues at the Division on Addictions in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health.

The 10 policy recommendations announced today are science-based guidelines that can be tailored, adopted and implemented by colleges and universities nationwide. The recommendations (see end of document) focus on three primary areas: on-campus prohibitions and restrictions, recognition of the importance of recovery-based policies and how to facilitate them, and special events. The recommended policies and programs range from establishing a campus-wide committee to develop a comprehensive gambling policy, to making reasonable accommodations for students who may miss class as they focus on recovery, to strengthening the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

“We know from research that when higher education institutions adopt and enforce clear policies, they can be very effective in preventing students from experiencing negative consequences from their decisions around health issues and can help them learn healthy habits they can take with them after college” said Kristy Wanner, a member of the task force and the gambling prevention coordinator for Missouri Partners in Prevention, housed at the University of Missouri, Columbia. “The recommendations of the task force can help schools across the country create and establish policies on gambling that will support the entire campus community through education, training, prevention, treatment and recovery.”

The task force examined a number of factors to determine its policy recommendations, including: scientific literature about alcohol and gambling on college and university campuses; state, local and federal laws relating to alcohol and gambling; programs intended to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs; and existing campus alcohol and gambling policies. The task force also reviewed policies on alcohol and gambling at on-campus events, such as charity and sports events, and addiction treatment and health services.

The NCRG and the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders are distributing the recommendations report to administrators, student health professionals, student life directors and other stakeholders through various professional organizations, meetings, listservs and social media avenues. The task force’s recommendations also will be featured at a breakfast on Oct. 16 hosted by the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver and in the NCRG’s free Oct. 22 webinar “Youth and College Gambling: New Direction, New Discoveries,” scheduled for 2-3 p.m. EDT. Participants may register for the webinar through the NCRG’s Web site.

The Task Force on College Gambling Policies represents a diverse range of institutions, including the University of Alabama; Bridgewater State College; the University of Denver; George Fox University; Harvard University; Lehigh University; Mississippi State University; the University of Missouri, Columbia; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the University of Nevada, Reno; Oregon State University; and Villanova University.

For more information on the task force, including a list of members and the detailed recommendations report, visitwww.ncrg.org.

Topline Recommendations of the Task Force on College Gambling Policies

  1. Establish a campus-wide committee to develop and monitor a comprehensive policy on gambling.
  2. Ensure that college policies are consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
  3. Strive for consistency and universal application with prohibitions and restrictions on gambling and alcohol use at special events.
  4. Promote campus-community collaborations that focus on reducing problems with student drinking and gambling.
  5. Encourage adjustments in disciplinary actions applied to violators of gambling rules if the student seeks assistance from health or counseling services.
  6. Make reasonable accommodations for students focused on recovery from a problem with gambling or alcohol.
  7. Measure student attitudes, behaviors, and problems with gambling through campus surveys or by incorporating such measures into existing campus health-related surveys.
  8. Promote campus-wide awareness of (1) pathological gambling as a mental health disorder that has a high rate of comorbidity with alcohol use and other addictive disorders, and (2) responsible gaming principles.
  9. Employ evidence-based strategies to identify and help students with gambling and alcohol problems.
  10. Strengthen the capacity of counseling services to identify and treat gambling disorders.

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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 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 Gambling Disorders, an independent program of the NCRG. For more information, visitwww.gamblingdisorders.org.

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