24th Annual ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction Wraps Up!

Many thanks to the attendees, speakers, moderators, and sponsors who participated in the 2023 ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. We welcomed attendees from the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, Australia, Botswana, Panama, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, Virgin Islands and South Africa. The conference also
brought together treatment providers, public health professionals, researchers, students, gaming regulators and industry professionals, including responsible gambling specialists for an exploration of the latest research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling. We aim to provoke spirited discourse on these matters. Here are
some of the intriguing comments made by our speakers:
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“When I look out at the responsible gambling landscape, I see a lot of states chasing tactics instead of starting with a goal, building strategies that address that goal, and then choosing the tactics that fit their strategies.”
Nathan Smith, PhD, Kindbridge Research Institute, conference session: “Trends Shaping the Future of Responsible Gaming”
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“We have endless debates about whether gaming is gambling, whereas the more important question is, what are the harms of video games?”
Luke Clark, PhD, University of British Columbia, conference session: “The Gamblers of the Future? Migration from Video Games to Gambling among Young Adults”
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“Nearly all states have laws and health policies that discriminate against people with gambling disorder. For a good model, look at New York State, which allows Medicaid reimbursement for gambling disorder treatment.”
Stacey Tovino, JD, PhD, University of Oklahoma College of Law, conference session: “Institutional Bias Against Persons with Gambling Disorder”
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“There is nothing about sports wagering itself that makes it a riskier form of gambling. But sports wagering does tend to attract players that seem to be at higher risk for gambling problems.”
Joshua Grubbs, PhD, University of New Mexico, conference session: “Trajectories of Sports Wagering Over Time”
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We look forward to seeing you next year at our 25 th anniversary conference! In the meantime, watch this space for announcements of the 2024 ICRG Webinar Series.

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BALLY’S MAKES HISTORY WITH A $1.05 MILLION DONATION TO ICRG

BEVERLY, MASS—October 25, 2023 –Bally’s Corporation has set a groundbreaking record as the largest donor over two years by contributing over $1.05 million to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). This generous donation underscores Bally’s commitment to advancing responsible gambling initiatives and addressing health risks associated with young adult gambling.

ICRG proudly announces the allocation of two significant research grants, made possible by Bally’s support, aimed at enhancing responsible gambling strategies and gaining a deeper understanding of the health challenges faced by young adult gamblers.

  1. The Center of Excellence in Gambling Research – University of Sydney, Australia ($402,500 Grant): With Bally’s funding, this project focuses on responsible gambling programs to prevent gambling-related problems. A key objective is to boost the utilization of responsible gambling tools provided by gambling operators, ultimately promoting healthier gambling practices.
  2. Research on Young Adult Sports Wagering – University of Washington ($172,500 Grant): Young adults aged 18-26 are particularly vulnerable to gambling and other risky behaviors. The research funded by this grant will provide insights crucial for tailoring responsible gambling strategies to this age group, effectively mitigating their risks.

Bally’s additional contribution of $450,000 aims to revamp responsible gambling communications, ensuring they are more engaging and informative, similar to how addiction treatment guidelines have evolved to eliminate stigmatizing language and foster better engagement.

ICRG invites scientists to participate in this initiative, striving to develop concise guidelines for operators that will enhance their responsible gambling staff and marketing strategies. The ultimate goal is to create a more positive and effective approach to responsible gambling, encouraging greater tool utilization and fostering healthier gambling practices.

Bally’s Corporation’s outstanding commitment and generosity are significantly impacting the responsible gambling landscape, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure a safer and more responsible gambling environment.

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About ICRG

The ICRG, founded in 1996, continues to serve as the only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling in the United States, yielding nearly 500 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Recently, it has become a global leader in the field. For more information, visit www.icrg.org.

Please find attached a photograph of Bally’s presenting a substantial contribution to the International Center for Responsible Gaming during the 24th ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. This event was held in conjunction with G2E in Las Vegas on October 9th.

In the image, you can see the following individuals from left to right:

Tammi Barlow, Bally’s Vice President of Global Responsibility & Social Impact
Kim Barker, Bally’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Wanda Wilson, Bally’s Board Member
Mark Lipparelli, Chairman of ICRG
Tracy Harris, Bally’s Board Member
Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG
Alan M. Feldman, Chair Emeritus of ICRG
Michael Soll, Board Member of ICRG
Kathy Scanlan, Board Member of ICRG

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International Center For Responsible Gaming Receives A $600,000 Donation From Bally’s Corporation

Aug 15, 2022

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INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE GAMING RECEIVES A

$600,000 DONATION FROM BALLY’S CORPORATION

BEVERLY, MASS—August 15, 2022–The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) announced today that it has received a $600,000 donation from Bally’s Corporation to support multi-year, cutting-edge scientific research on gambling among young adults and the usage and effectiveness of responsible gambling tools.

With this grant, Bally’s Corporation has taken a giant stride toward understanding the health risks of young adult gamblers and improving the effectiveness of existing responsible gambling tools” said ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky. “The ICRG salutes Bally’s Corporation for making such a huge impact on the field of gambling studies.”

The ICRG will invite scientists from around the world to apply for these grants in a rigorous competition that ensures funding only the highest quality research. The ICRG will also sponsor programming that will extend the research findings of these projects beyond academia and provide guidelines to the gaming industry for effective responsible gambling strategies.

‘We take seriously our responsibility to educate the public, including young adult gamblers, and our employees about responsible gaming, Bally’s is committed to this work,’ said Robeson Reeves, President of Interactive at Bally’s Corporation. “We look forward to working with ICRG on cutting-edge scientific research on gambling among young adults and the usage and effectiveness of responsible gambling tools.”

Since its establishment in 1996, the ICRG has become a prominent funding source in problem gambling research, yielding hundreds of articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The donation will also help fund several programs designed to educate treatment providers, responsible gambling professionals, regulators and public policy makers about gambling disorder and responsible gambling.

ICRG-funded research has informed the industry about the health risks of casino employees, created the only research-based website on college gambling, and launched a national campaign to make parents and teachers aware of youth gambling. Projects currently in process are evaluating the responsible gambling tool of self-imposed limits on time and money spent gambling and the national impact of sports wagering.

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About ICRG

The ICRG, founded in 1996, continues to serve as the only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling in the United States. Recently, it has become a global leader in the field. For more information, visit www.icrg.org.

About Bally’s Corporation

Bally’s Corporation is a global casino-entertainment company with a growing omni-channel presence of Online Sports Betting and iGaming offerings. It currently owns and manages 14 casinos across 10 states, a horse racetrack in Colorado and has access to OSB licenses in 18 states. It also owns Gamesys Group, a leading, global, online gaming operator, Bally’s Interactive, a first-in-class sports betting platform, Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing daily fantasy sports site in North America, SportCaller, a leading, global B2B free-to-play game provider, and Telescope Inc., a leading provider of real-time fan engagement solutions.

With approximately 10,000 employees, Bally’s casino operations include more than 15,800 slot machines, 500 table games and 5,300 hotel rooms. Upon closing the previously announced Tropicana Las Vegas (NV) transaction, as well as completing the construction of a land-based casino near the Nittany Mall in State College, PA, Bally’s will own and manage 16 casinos across 11 states. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ‘BALY’.

Media Contacts

Christine Reilly
ICRG
[email protected]

617-359-9904

Diane Spiers

Bally’s Corporation

[email protected]

609-377-4706

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ICRG Appoints Gaming Industry Leaders To Advisory Council

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) today announced the appointment of four outstanding gaming industry leaders to the ICRG Advisory Council: Laurens Vosloo, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Ellen Whittemore, Wynn Resorts Ltd; Trevor J. Croker, Aristocrat Leisure Limited; and Bobby Soper, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.

The newly formed Advisory Council will provide guidance and direction on issues facing the ICRG, a global leader in research on gambling addiction and responsible gambling. ICRG President Art Paikowsky said that “We are deeply grateful to this esteemed group of highly respected leaders for joining as inaugural Advisory Council members, for sharing trends in the industry and most significantly, advising the ICRG on meeting the responsible gambling needs of the industry.”

As the chief executive officer of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Laurens Vosloo oversees all aspects of the tribal enterprise, including tribal government operations, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and various other assets.

Trevor J. Croker serves as chief executive officer and managing director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited. Croker previously served as chairman of the American Gaming Association and as director of the Australasian Gaming Council.

Ellen Whittemore is executive vice president, general counsel and secretary at Wynn Resorts Ltd. She is the chair of the Nevada Resort Association, vice president of the International Association of Gaming Advisors, a member of the executive committee of the American Gaming Association and a board member of Global Gaming Women.

Bobby Soper currently serves as the international president of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. In this role, he oversees and directs all aspects of the company’s efforts for Mohegan’s assets in Asia. In addition, Mr. Soper is the founder and owner of Sun Gaming & Hospitality (SG&H) which is operated out of Sunrise, Florida. SG&H provides advisement to resort operators, investors, regulatory bodies, private equity funds, banks and developers in every area of resort finance, development and operations for large-scale projects and online initiatives.

ICRG staffICRG NewsICRG Advisory Council

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International Center For Responsible Gaming Elects Three Industry Leaders To Governing Board

May 26, 2022

BEVERLY, MASS. — May 25, 2022—The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) announced the election of Sheila Morago, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association; Stephen Martino, MGM Resorts International; and Alex Dixon, Q Casino, to its governing board.

Arthur Paikowsky, president of the ICRG, stated, “We are honored to have outstanding industry leaders like Sheila Morago, Alex Dixon and Stephen Martino join the ICRG board. They bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to responsible gambling.”

Sheila Morago is the executive director for the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. Previously, she served as executive director for the Arizona Indian Gaming Association from 2004 to 2011. Morago was director of public relations for the National Indian Gaming Association from 2001 to 2004.

As senior vice president & chief compliance officer of MGM Resorts International, Stephen Martino directs the company’s compliance with federal and state laws as well as regulations governing gaming activity, financial transactions, anti-money laundering policy, surveillance and responsible gaming programming. He has oversight of MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas and throughout the United States.

Alex Dixon is the chief executive officer of the non-profit Q Casino in Dubuque, Iowa. Previously, he worked at MGM Resorts International , Caesars Entertainment and Goldman Sachs. In 2019, Dixon was brought in as President and COO to shepherd the $825M sale of Circus Circus Hotel & Resort, the 11th largest hotel in North America.

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International Center For Responsible Gaming Receives $200,000 Grant From Caesars Foundation

May 19, 2022

BEVERLY, MASS—May 19, 2022–The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) announced today that it has received a $200,000 grant from the Caesars Foundation in support of the organization’s research and education on gambling disorder and responsible gambling.

“Caesars has supported ICRG from day one and has literally helped create the field of study on gambling addiction and responsible gambling,” said ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky. “We are deeply grateful for their continuing support of efforts to effectively prevent and treat gambling disorder.”

Since its establishment in 1996, the ICRG has become a prominent funding source in problem gambling research, yielding hundreds of articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The donation will also help fund several programs designed to educate treatment providers, responsible gambling professionals, regulators and public policy makers about gambling disorder and responsible gambling.

“Responsible gaming is one of our core pillars for our CSR framework at Caesars Entertainment,” said Heather Rapp, SVP of corporate social responsibility for Caesars Entertainment. “We’re honored to provide funds for the ICRG to continue education and research in the responsible gaming space.”

ICRG-funded research has informed the industry about the health risks of casino employees, created the only research-based website on college gambling, and launched a national campaign to make parents and teachers aware of youth gambling. Projects currently in process are evaluating the responsible gambling tool of self-imposed limits on time and money spent gambling and the national impact of sports wagering.

# # #

About ICRG

The ICRG, founded in 1996, continues to serve as the only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling in the United States. Recently, it has become a global leader in the field. For more information, visit www.icrg.org.

About Caesars Foundation

Caesars Foundation is a private foundation funded by resorts owned or operated by the Caesars group. The Foundation is the entity through which Caesars Entertainment funds programs and projects of $5,000 or more, as well as not-for-profit giving requirements imposed by certain operating jurisdictions. The Foundation’s objective is to strengthen organizations and programs in the communities where our employees and their families live and work. Caesars Foundation provides valuable financial support to worthy civic, philanthropic, educational and community partners in ways that produce meaningful, measurable results for individuals and communities alike.

But beyond its philanthropic role, the Foundation also brings together various stakeholders – academic experts, government organizations, research institutes and other authorities in various disciplines – to conduct research and create broader awareness of social issues it addresses through its gifts, grants and donations.

Media Contact

Christine Reilly
ICRG
[email protected]

617-359-9904

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