Key Research Findings

Support from the ICRG has led to a number of significant advancements in the field of research on gambling disorders. ICRG grants have funded research leading to:

  • The first reliable statistics of how many people have the disorder:
    • Harvard’s estimate of approximately 1 percent of the adult population has been verified by independent studies and the National Academy of Sciences
  • Promising treatments for gambling disorder
  • More evidence for the role of genetics in the development of the disorder
  • A greater understanding of youth gambling
  • New instruments for accurately measuring, screening and diagnosing a gambling disorder
  • The first national survey of gambling on college campuses
  • A more sophisticated understanding of the brain’s reward system
  • A new understanding of addiction as a syndrome
  • A better understanding of the health risks of casino employees
  • A model for evaluating self-exclusion and treatment programs
  • A framework for understanding gambling as a public health issue

For additional information on these findings, visit the Find a Study section of our Research Library or contact Christine Reilly (creilly@icrg.org; 978-338-6610).

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