The 23rd Annual ICRG Conference On Gambling And Addiction

The International Center for Responsible Gaming is proud to invite all stakeholders to the 23rd Annual ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction on Oct. 9-10, 2022.  The conference will feature the latest research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling, including a new study on sports wagering. Researchers, health professionals, gaming regulators and professionals, and healthcare providers will discuss the relevant research on gambling disorder/problem gambling and current responsible gaming strategies. The conference is held in conjunction with Global Gaming Expo at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

In order to appeal to the diverse interests of the audience, topics covered in this forum will include:

●Analyzing barriers and implementing new models for the treatment of trauma and addiction

●Health disparities and its relationship to problem gambling

●Gambling and the Brain

●The psychological effect of “Big Wins”

●Comorbidities linked with gambling disorder

●New research on sports wagering and responsible gaming

“The conference will be of special interest to responsible gaming specialists,” said ICRG

President Art Paikowsky. “Topics include self-exclusion, gambling helplines and low usage of responsible gaming tools.”

VisitICRG Conference on Gambling and Addictionfor program details and online registration link. Note that the early bird registration deadline expires after Sept. 23.

We hope to see you there in October!

ICRG staffConference on Gambling and Addiction

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ICRG And Hoosier Lottery Team Up To Support Lottery Research

Lottery gambling is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the US. In 2020, gross lottery sales totaled $82,777,858,762. However, the research base on lottery play as it relates to gambling disorder and responsible gambling is under-developed. To rectify this gap, the Hoosier Lottery has awarded the ICRG a three-year grant of $137,400 to conduct grant competitions to select research focused on lottery gambling and gambling disorder.

In 2022, the ICRG has released two Requests for Applications (RFA). The Small Research Grant on Lottery Gambling will support a one-year grant of $30,000. Funding priorities include the following:

  • Examine strategies to promote the responsible gambling principles of Positive Play harm minimization and treatment referral for lottery players.
  • Identify the positive or negative factors that influence behaviors and beliefs among lottery players who may be at risk for gambling disorder.
  • Determine innovative methods to reach and connect lottery players with educational resources or treatment providers.
  • Understand the role that technology plays in the promotion of Positive Play attributes or treatment of gambling disorder among lottery players.
  • Examine the implementation of responsible gaming principles, especially those with the least amount of research specific to lotteries; specifically employee training, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation.

The other grant category is for student research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling. Eligible applicants are PhD and master’s degree program students. Applicants will be invited to apply for up to $5,000 for research projects focused on any aspect of gambling disorder, including prevention strategies such as responsible gambling.

To download the detailed announcements and application forms, go tohttps://www.icrg.org/research-center/apply-icrg-funding

ICRG staffResearch UpdateLottery Gamblinggambling research grants

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Esports And Their Relationship To Gambling Problems

Over the past few years, esports betting and skin gambling have taken off as a new wave of gambling and gambling products. Esports are professional video gaming competitions, and skin gambling is the betting of in-game digital items such as visual enhancements to characters that have monetary value. There has been an increase in both esports events and skins use in recent years as video game play has gained in popularity, and these innovations can be bet on or used as a prop for gambling. Gambling operators accept wagers on esports events much like they would accept bets on sports.

Aims

Greer et al., 2022 completed a cross sectional (a study that looks at data from a population at one specific point in time) online survey of esports participants aged 18+. Their main aim was to test the conceptual relationships between video gaming involvement, video-game betting, traditional gambling and the impacts of gambling. The core research questions that guided the research were: are video game behaviors associated with greater frequency of esports or skin gambling; does greater frequency of esports betting or skin gambling mean higher involvement in traditional gambling activities and vice versa; and how much gambling-related harm do esports and skin gamblers experience?

What did they do?

The researchers completed a cross sectional online survey of adults that had gambled in the last 6 months on esports cash betting, esports skin betting or skin gambling on games of chance. The sample was made up of 737 adults 18+ from the US, UK, and Canada. Demographic information was collected, including age, gender, marital status, education level and personal income. Video game and esports consumption was measured by frequency of video gaming, video game purchases, frequency of esports viewing and esports playing by type. Gambling disorder was measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) (Orford et al., 2010) and gambling harms were measured using the Short Gambling Harms Screen (Browne et al., 2017). The PGSI is a scale from 0-27 that categorizes gamblers by scores into different risk groups. The SGHS measures how many gambling-related harms a participant has experienced, from 0-10. Statistical measures were then executed to understand relationships between involvement and game-related gambling.

What did they find?

The study authors found that purchasing skins within a video game was associated with greater frequency of esports skin betting and skin gambling on other games of chance, while more frequent esports viewing predicted more frequent esports betting. Esports cash betting frequency predicted higher frequency of traditional gambling activities such as casino table games, sports betting and fantasy sports betting. The main takeaways from the research: “Skin gambling is directly implicated in gambling problems and harm, whereas cash betting on esports is only indicative of interest in many forms of potentially harmful gambling” (Greer et al., 2022, p. 1).

Limitations

This article, while informative on an emerging realm of gambling activity, is not without limitations. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the research design because the researchers could not infer causation from associations, as the data is just a snapshot in time. Additionally, the sample size is small and made up of only adult esports/ skins bettors, and thus these results are not generalizable to the general adult population. Another issue, which could be related to the sample of only bettors, is the high percentage of the sample that scored as “Problem Gambling” on the PGSI (30.4%). The prevalence of gambling addiction in the US is around 1%, so it is important to keep in mind this sample is only of esports gamblers. However, this is one of the first studies to try to understand how new gambling products may be associated with gambling harms and paves the way for future studies.

Browne, M., Goodwin, B., & Rockloff, M. (2017). Validation of the short gambling harm screen (SGHS): A tool for assessment of harms from gambling.Journal of Gambling Studies,34(2), 499–512.

Greer, N., Rockloff, M., Hing, N., Browne, M., & King, D. (2022). Skin gambling contributes to gambling problems and harm after controlling for other forms of traditional gambling.Journal of Gambling Studies,Online.

Orford, J., Wardle, H., Griffiths, M., Sproston, K., & Erens, B. (2010). PGSI and DSM-IV in the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey: Reliability, item response, factor structure and inter-scale agreement.International Gambling Studies,10(1), 31–44.

ICRG staffResearch Updateesportsgambling problemsskin gambling

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Who’s Responsible For Responsible Gambling?

The current debate about responsible gambling (RG) focuses on individual consumer accountability versus the responsibility of gaming operators to make the use of their product “safe.” Three of the leading scientists on RG issues published a commentary on this topic, “Moving away from individual responsibility: A comment,” which defends their seminal article on the Reno Model (Blaszczynski et al., 2004) and addresses the question of personal responsibility.

Howard Shaffer, Robert Ladouceur and Alex Blaszczynsi published “A Science-Based Framework for Responsible Gambling: The Reno Model” in 2004. This model sought to shape the direction of RG initiatives and stimulate a dialogue about RG initiatives and concepts. A main component of this model is the “Individual versus Industry Responsibility” part, in which the authors argue that the ultimate choice to gamble resides within individuals, but they must have the opportunity to be informed about gambling harms and negative consequences. Overall, they emphasize the need for all key stakeholders to come together to define and coordinate efforts to satisfactorily inform individuals about the risks of gambling and where to seek help.

In recent years, critics of the Reno Model have argued that it overemphasizes the role of personal responsibility and ignores the social settings in which gamblers operate. In response, Shaffer and Ladouceur published a commentary in theJournal of Gambling Studies(Shaffer & Ladouceur, 2021). They argue that this shift in perspective disproportionately attributes gambling harms to the enviornment and minimizes the personal responsibility that comes along with gambling responsibly. They emphasize that personal responsibility is a vital component to understanding both addiction itself and the use of many psychological models for treatment of gambling disorder. Additionally, they attempt to explain the possible reasoning behind this shift away from personal responsibility.

First, the authors address the issues related to responsible gambling by explaining that as a result of the overarching failure to distinguish between stakeholder’s roles and accountability when it comes to protecting consumers, the term “responsible gambling” has yet to be defined and understood adequately. The presentation, or “definition” of RG varies among stakeholders and causes many critics to question whether it is even a valid construct. As a result of this confusion, many have begun to shift away from the notion of personal responsibility. The authors emphasize that social setting can only do so much to push an individual towards gambling responsibly, and the ultimate decision to gamble still resides within the individual.

Movement away from Individual Responsibility

Next, this commentary tackles the movement away from personal responsibility itself. The authors comment that although there is considerable value in studying social settings and it’s influence on choice when it comes to gambling, personal choice must be considered as well. They claim that with total freedom comes total personal responsibility and the fear of this is driving a social movement that prefers to blame social settings.

The Reno Model

This commentary next touches upon how gambling industry critics have recently suggested that the Reno Model places too much emphasis on individual accountability. These critics see the responsibility as all-or-nothing, and that it must all lie with the social setting, or all must lie with the individual. The authors reference the Reno Model and how they charge all stakeholders with responsibility: consumers, operators, health services, community groups, government and related agencies. In short, the Reno Model does not place sole responsibility on the individual. It emphasizes that all involved stakeholders must work together.

Psychological Models

The authors next explain how the movement away from personal responsibility affects psychological models that have been studied for years and relate directly to addictive behaviors. The first model is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief that they are able to execute a certain behavior. Therefore, if a person attributes his/her behaviors to external influences and does not see his/her personal capacity to change an excessive behavior, the ability to modify negative behaviors is jeopardized. The second model is the Locus of Control. Locus of Control is the perception of control that an individual has over their behaviors. Those that are able to look within themselves and understand how their actions and performance influence consequences often see positive impacts, compared to those that attribute control to external factors.

Explaining Moving away from Individual Responsibility

The authors of this commentary again emphasize that no one factor is the cause of excessive gambling, and that to assign blame to one thing such as social setting would be short-sighted. Possible reasons that critics are moving away from personal responsibility include the following. Critics of the gambling industry may be using this viewpoint simply to blame the industry for all ails involved with gambling. Second, anti-gambling lobbyists could be purposely shaping the evidence into a viewpoint that makes it easier to blame the gambling industry for all gambling harms. Third, critics of the use of “responsible gambling” have misinterpreted the Reno model to claim that it unfairly puts all blame on the individual. Finally, critics that have adopted an all-or-nothing attitude have shifted away from personal responsibility, because they do not see that there is a balance between environment and individual responsibility.

Conclusion

The authors conclude their commentary with the following: “When individual responsibility is minimized and the social setting exaggerated, we have established a formula for social chaos. To avoid this circumstance, we must… establish a balanced view of gambling and its host, agent, and environment influences” (Shaffer & Ladouceur, 2021, p. 1075).

References

Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., & Shaffer, H. J. (2004). A Science-Based Framework for Responsible Gambling: The Reno Model.Journal of Gambling Studies,20(3).

Shaffer, H., & Ladouceur, R. (2021). Moving away from individual responsibility: A comment.Journal of Gambling Studies,37(3), 1071–1078.

ICRG staffResponsible Gamingresponsible gaming

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Treating Adults With Co-occurring Disorders

Many individuals that suffer from gambling issues also have co-occurring psychiatric disorders and limited or no adequate treatment options to address all disorders at once. These co-occurring disorders include anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. Because of this problem, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services created The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders (Kruse-Diehr et al., 2022), specifically for adults with co-occurring disorders. This manual, aims to fill in the gaps that exist when treating individuals with co-occurring disorders.

Aims

The researchers aimed to create and test the efficacy of a gambling disorder (GD) treatment manual, The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders (OhPGTM). The main aims of the study were to assess, treat and measure changes in gambling disorder when using the manual and the treatment methods it recommends. This is important for treatment providers because it provides a uniform process to address all co-occurring disorders that are presenting along with a client’s gambling issues. Additionally, the overarching and long-term goal of this study was to address the negative consequences of GD and ultimately reduce its prevalence in Ohio populations.

What did they do?

The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders (OhPGTM) was developed over a period of five years, drawing from various addiction treatment models including cognitive behavioral treatment, Motivational Interviewing and improvement of life skills. The manual included a 12-week process of modules with each week covering a new topic related to co-occurring disorders and gambling disorder. Participants completed monitoring logs, craving scales, handouts and take home assignments. Each study participant was placed into a group, with each group consisting of between three to 12 participants. Each participant completed a pre-test and post-test assessment to discern the helpfulness of the 12-week process. The scales used to assess the efficacy of the manual included The Gambling Craving Scale (Young & Wohl, 2009); the Problem Gambling Severity Index (Ferris, J., & Wynne, H., 2001), which was used to assess the previous year’s actual GD symptom severity and its effects on both the individual and family members; and The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), which was used to assess participant self-esteem.

What did they find?

Over the course of the study, 122 participants completed the program. Participants that completed the course reported a reduction in gambling, but no change in self-esteem or gambling urges. Two-thirds of the sample that completed the program reported a co-occurring mental disorder, and three fourths had a substance use disorder. The researchers concluded that this manual represents a significant improvement in GD treatment for at risk communities. As with many pilot studies, efficacy is not always immediately clear but the authors believe further research can help solidify its usefulness for both treatment providers and the clients that they serve.

Limitations:

The study authors stated that improvements in gambling behaviors cannot be confirmed as a result of the manual itself; participants may have had other factors in their life that affected their gambling actions over the course of the study. The researchers also noted that the study participants were almost predominantly white, which does not provide a representative sample of the population of Ohio.

Further Direction:

The ICRG was lucky enough to talk with Derek Longmeier,Executive Director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, who commented on his excitement over this manual:

We’ve found that screening at intake is not the most effective method for identifying those in need of gambling support services and that there is a strong connection between disordered gambling and substance use disorder. We are confident that this program will be a catalyst for identifying and serving individuals with co-occurring disorders. We know that there are many roads to recovery for those with a gambling disorder and we are hopeful that through broad distribution and utilization of the manual throughout Ohio, we can make the process as smooth as possible for both counselors and the clients they serve.

References

Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. (2001).The Canadian Problem Gambling Index(Final Report; p. 59). Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research.

Kruse-Diehr, A., Shamblen, S., & Courser, M. (2022). Longitudinal assessment of a manualized group treatment program for gambling disorder: The Ohio problem gambling treatment model for adults with co-occurring disorders.Journal of Gambling Studies.

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Rosenberg self-esteem scale.APA PsychTests.

Young, M., & Wohl, M. (2009). The Gambling Craving Scale: Psychometric validation and behavioral outcomes.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors,23(4).

ICRG staffResearch UpdateCo-occurring disordersGaming DisorderThe Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model

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ICRG Supports Gambling Disorder Screening Day

Brief screens can help people decide whether to seek formal evaluation of their gambling behavior. The 3-item Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) is based on the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for Gambling Disorder. A “yes” response to any single item indicates potential gambling-related problems and the need for additional evaluation. The ICRG is proud to have played a role in the development of this evidence-based screening tool.

The ICRG is also a proud supporter of Gambling Disorder Screening Day (Screening Day), a one-day event held annually on the second Tuesday of March. Established by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, Screening Day has included supporters and screeners from Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts and New England, the United States and around the world. Screening Day has helped identify individuals in those regions who might have Gambling Disorder and should seek further assessment.

The ICRG is participating in Screening Day by distributing for free the BBGS in magnet form—suitable for affixing to your file cabinet—to treatment providers. To request magnets, contact nmancini@icrg.org.

Organizations are encouraged to host a screening event on Screening Day. The Division’s Screening Day Toolkit contains a variety of free online tools and resources, including a printable and customizable Screening Day Flyer, BBGS e-Screener (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) and a one-page article What Is Gambling Disorder? The Division encourages organizations and individuals to share these tools and resources to educate staff and patients. To host Screening Day on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022, email info@divisiononaddiction.org.

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ICRG staff Responsible Gaming gambling disorder Division on Addictions

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The Connection Between Gambling Disorder And Suicide In Twins

Past studies have drawn a correlation between gambling disorder and suicidal behaviors but have yet to establish whether this is a direct cause or is influenced by other outside factors such as genetics and environment. Twin studies are important for looking at causal mechanisms of disease as they allow researchers to tease out the effect of genetics and environment. In an attempt to determine whether gambling disorder (GD) is a causal mechanism for suicidal behaviors, Dr. Wendy Slutske, an ICRG Center of Excellence Grant recipient, and colleagues conducted a twin study utilizing members of the Australian Twin Registry.

Aims:

Slutske et al., 2022 focused this study on the relationship between precursors to suicide, such as suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts and gambling disorder. Past studies have failed to either prove or disprove a causal link between the two.Twin studies are important to public health because they allow researchers to look at the comparative influences of genetics and environment on a certain behavior.

What did they do?

The researchers assembled two cohorts from the Australian Twin Registry, which included 2,995 complete twin pairs. Two phases of assessments were conducted that gathered information on suicidal behaviors, psychiatric disorders, gambling disorder, income and education. Gambling disorder was assessed by using the National Opinion Research Center DSM Screen for Gambling Problems (Gerstein et al., 1999). Suicidal behaviors were assessed by utilizing a script asking various questions about past suicidal thoughts, plans and actions. The researchers also screened for other psychiatric disorders, including major depression, alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, nicotine dependence and conduct disorder. Socioeconomic status and education level were self-reported by participants. After ascertaining the above information on the twin pairs, the research team performed multilevel discordant-twin analyses to determine whether there was a causal link between gambling disorder and suicidal thoughts, plans and actions.

What did they find?

This study established a significant association between gambling disorder (GD) and suicide thoughts, plans and attempts for the very first time in the peer-reviewed literature. Despite finding an association between GD and suicide thoughts, plans and attempts, researchers were unable to confirm that the relationship is causal in the sample unless they removed the influence of shared genetics and environmental risk factors between the twins. The males within the sample showed a stronger possibility of having a causal relationship between gambling disorder and suicidal thoughts, ideas and attempts than women. . This potential causal relationship may have been related to financial problems related to GD instead of just gambling disorder itself. As a result, the researchers emphasized that using financial harms data to identify individuals having financial hardships may be the best option for targeting, screening and intervening with individuals before they reach suicidal ideation.

Limitations

The authors reported on the limitations of their current study. They observed that the exclusion of interview questions on other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, post -traumatic stress disorder and panic order might affect the findings, as these disorders may also affect the presence of suicidal ideation. Next, data collection was retrospective in design, which could lead to some inaccuracies when individuals recall specific past actions, thoughts and traits. Finally, the participant pool represented a narrow age group, (27-43), and included only Australian residents. Therefore, the findings of this study cannot be generalized to other age groups or countries.

Gerstein, D., Murphy, S., Toce, M., Hoffmann, J., Palmer, A., Johnson, R., Larison, C., Chuchro, L., Bard, A., Engelman, L., Hill, M. A., Buie, T., Volberg, R., Harwood, H., Tucker, A., Christiansen, E., Cummings, W., & Sinclair, S. (1999).Gambling Impact and Behavior Study: Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. National Opinion Research Center.

Slutske, W., Davis, C., Lynskey, M., Heath, A., & Martin, N. (2022). An epidemiologic, longitudinal, and discordant-twin study of the association between gambling disorder and suicidal behaviors.Clinical Psychological Science, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211062599

ICRG staffResearch Updategambling disordersuicideGambling disorder research

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Returning To The Virtual Casino: A Contemporary Study Of Actual Online Casino Gambling

Online casino gambling has been less utilized than its brick and mortar counterparts historically. However, with the expansion of legalized internet gambling, its popularity is expected to increase. The research base for this form of gambling is under-developed. Consequently, the Division of Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, has set out to fill this void by examining actual internet casino gambling behaviors in the European Union (EU).

Aims:

Edson et al., 2021 aimed to compare actual online casino data from bwin, previously one of the largest online gambling operators in the EU, to a similar study conducted in 2008 by the Division on Addiction (LaBrie et al., 2008), while also adding in a few novel metrics. These new metrics included looking at deposit and withdrawal behaviors of the participants within the sample. The researchers hoped to find out how online casino gambling behaviors may have changed over time, and how more “extreme” gamblers, those found to be in the top 5% of gambling participation in the sample and defined as being overly involved in gambling, differ from the rest of the sample.

Why is this important?

This study is important because it aims to fill in gaps of research on online casino games, such as slot machines, blackjack, and roulette. Although they are historically played less often than the same games in land-based casinos, there is reason to believe that they may gain popularity over the next few years with the continued expansion of legalized online gambling opportunities in the EU. A study by Gainsbury & Wood, 2011, found that increased accessibility to online casino games may be correlated with overall changes in rates of gambling disorder. On the other hand, an investigation by Philander & MacKay, 2014, found that online gambling was not heavily correlated with increased risk of gambling problems. The Division on Addiction’s study, that looks at participants’ data over time, will answer some important questions raised by previous research.

What did they do?

Researchers examined two years of longitudinal data from 4,424 actual online gambling subscribers to bwin. The study was modeled on the the previously mentioned 2008 study. The researchers at the Division of Addiction gathered data on the 4,424 subscribers’ characteristics, gambling activity, deposit activity, and withdrawal activity. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess relationships between gambling, depositing, and withdrawal behaviors. The researchers also conducted analyses of gambling behavior and age, and compared participants who showed more involvement in gambling activities to a typical gambler.

What did they find?

The investigators found that online casino gambling behaviors are very similar to those outlined in the 2008 study (LaBrie et al., 2008). The previous study found that small proportions of the participants (~5%) exhibited more extreme gambling involvement than the rest, and that most online casino players in the sample bet modest amounts. Some gambling behaviors such as net loss, credit card use, and withdrawals distinguished these more “extreme” gamblers from the typical gamblers.

Limitations

The researchers noted that this study was conducted within one online gambling service, and participants within the sample may have gambled with other operators as well during the study period. Additionally, this sample was derived from one single registration cohort and may not be representative of all online casino gamblers. Finally, because the sample was restricted to the EU, the findings are not necessarily applicable to the US.

Edson, T., Tom, M., Louderback, E., Nelson, S., & LaPlante, D. A. (2021). Returning to the virtual casino: A contemporary study of actual online casino gambling.International Gambling Studies.

Gainsbury, S., & Wood, R. (2011). Internet gambling policy in critical comparative perspective: The effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks.International Gambling Studies,11(3), 309–323.

LaBrie, R. A., Kaplan, S. A., LaPlante, D. A., Nelson, S. E., & Shaffer, H. J. (2008). Inside the virtual casino: A prospective longitudinal study of actual Internet casino gambling.European Journal of Public Health,18(4), 410–416. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckn021

Philander, K., & MacKay, T.-L. (2014). Online gambling participation and problem gambling severity: Is there a causal relationship?International Gambling Studies,14(2).

ICRG staffResearch UpdateOnline Gambling

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Annual Golf Classic Raises $104,000 For The ICRG

The 22nd annual AGEM & AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global was a huge success, and thanks to the generous support of sponsors and players, the event raised $104,000 to benefit the first-class research conducted by the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG).

Including this year, the event has now raised more than $2.3 million for the ICRG and its important research into gambling disorder.

“The ICRG is so grateful to JCM Global, AGA, AGEM, and the participating companies for continuing this important source of funding for research on gambling disorder,” said ICRG President Arthur Paikowsky. “Funding for gambling research brings us one step closer to developing effective prevention and treatment for the millions of Americans who suffer from gambling addiction.”

The Golf Classic attracts players and sponsors from across the gaming industry spectrum. Title Sponsors are Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) and the American Gaming Association (AGA). Presenting Sponsor is JCM Global (JCM). Media sponsor is GGB Magazine. Other sponsors include Aristocrat Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Catapult Global, Century Gaming Technologies, Fantalooks, ICE London 2022, IGT, Konami, Patriot Gaming & Electronics, and Scientific Games.

Planning is underway for the 2022 Golf Classic. For more information or to become a sponsor, visitgolf.jcmglobal.comor contactmarketing@jcmglobal.com.

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ICRG staffIn the News

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ICRG Online Poster Session

We, at ICRG, would like to thank everyone that participated in this year’s online poster session. It has been a trying last couple of years, and although we couldn’t see the posters in person, research doesn’t stop and we were able to learn via online presentations.

Additionally, we would like to announce the winners of poster awards for 2021:

Honorable Mention: “Preparing Massachusetts treatment providers for gambling expansion: Initial observations from a statewide needs assessment and capacity building program”- Kira A. Landauer, Amy Flynn, Caitlyn S. Fong, Tamika R. Francis, Ivy Schmalzried, Elizabeth Bice, Amanda Ayers, Debi A. LaPlante, Heather M. Gray Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School

Abstract: Like many places around the world, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is undergoing a period of gambling expansion. Increased availability of gambling opportunities, both land-based and online, might contribute to an increase in the prevalence of problem gambling and health workforce, who already provide care for common co-occurring conditions including substance use disorders and other mental health conditions, must be prepared to screen for and manage problem gambling among their clientele. To that end, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of Problem Gambling Services partnered with Health Resources in Action and the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance to build the capacity of substance use outpatient treatment programs in Massachusetts to address problem gambling and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, and to reduce health disparities associated with the delivery of those services in their communities. This poster will review the Massachusetts

Technical Assistance Center for Problem Gambling Treatment’s (MTAC) first year of activity. First, we will review findings from a statewide needs assessment designed to identify treatment providers’ most pressing needs as they relate to integrating problem gambling treatment into their portfolio of services in a way that reduces or eliminates persistent healthcare disparities. Twenty-six programs, each with an average of 1,798 patients, completed a needs assessment survey and a subset completed individual structured interviews. Questions were focused on whether and how programs screen for, assess, and treat problem gambling among their

patients. Programs also answered questions about organizational-level factors that have the potential to impact their problem gambling treatment services, including recruitment and retention of staff, training, collection and use of data, marketing and promotion of services, and organizational culture. Second, we will describe the development of individualized TA plans created in collaboration with outpatient programs and centered on health equity. Finally, more broadly, we will describe challenges, successes, and planned next steps of this collaboration.

Most Outstanding Poster:“Should I stay or should I go: Feeling both optimistic for recovery and nostalgic for gambling heightens ambivalence and likelihood of relapse”- Mackenzie Dowson, Michael J. A. Wohl, Melissa M. Salmon, Isabella R. L. Bossom, Nassim Tabri, Carleton University

Abstract: A growing body of research has demonstrated that nostalgic reverie (i.e., sentimental longing) for the pre-addicted self readies people living with a gambling disorder for change. However, there may be a potential dark side to nostalgia among those in recovery. In this novel research, we recruited a sample of 304 (Male= 172; Female=132) people in recovery from disordered gambling (recruited via CloudResearch) and assessed them on nostalgia for gambling and optimism for a gambling-free future. Specifically, we predicted and found support for the idea that nostalgia for gambling (e.g., reminiscing about emotional and or behavioural aspects of gambling) is associated with greater ambivalence about the recovery process and greater likelihood of having experienced a relapse. We also found support for the idea that although optimism about one’s recovery is negatively associated with ambivalence about the recovery process, those who feel both nostalgic about the past and optimistic about the future report the greatest amount of ambivalence. Results suggest that treatment providers should examine the extent to which their clients nostalgize about gambling and work to undermine such sentiments, particularly among those who express confidence in their recovery process.

ICRG staffConference on Gambling and Addiction

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