NCRG’S 12th Annual Conference To Focus On The Impact Of Technology On Treatment, Research And Responsible Gaming

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

Jul 12, 2011

WASHINGTON–For its12^thannual Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) will explore the various ways technology can transform how we research, understand and promote recovery from gambling disorders and other addictions. The event is scheduled for Oct. 2-4, 2011 at The Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nev.

The 2011 conference –’Risk or Reward? The Impact of Technology on Treatment, Research and Responsible Gaming’ – will bring together the world’s leading addiction scientists, clinicians and academicians 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 in partnership with the NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research at the University of Minnesota and Yale University, and in conjunction with the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

‘For more than a decade, the NCRG Conference has provided a unique forum where the various stakeholders in the field of gambling disorders from around the world 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’s conference will include sessions that examine how technological developments provide new ways to understand addiction, identify treatment methods, promote recovery and develop effective educational programs.’

Sessions at the 2011 conference will examine a variety of compelling issues and topics, including research on Internet gambling, Web-based interventions for gambling disorders, the impact of slot machines on problematic gambling behavior, how gaming companies can use new technology to promote responsible gaming programs, and much more.

The NCRG also will host three pre-conference workshops Sunday, Oct. 2. Two of the workshops are intended for treatment providers in clinical practice and require an additional fee. They will explore impulse control problems and motivational interviewing for treatment of gambling problems. The third workshop is complimentary and will provide advice for investigators on how to develop competitive grant proposals. Separate registration is required for all workshops.

NCRG Conference attendees will have the opportunity to earn up to 13 continuing education hours approved by heath care certifying agencies, including NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals; the California Foundation for the Advancement of Addiction Professionals (CFAAP); the California Board of Behavioral Sciences; the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); the National Association of Social Workers (NASW); the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders; the Employee Assistance Certification Commission (EACC); and the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers. Additionally, the NCRG is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

The 12^thannual 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. This is the first year that the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction and G2E will co-locate, making it easier for attendees of both events to learn the best practices in responsible gaming. ‘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, including sessions on how to use the Internet to promote responsible gaming and an examination of responsible gaming programs around the world.

As part of the 2011 conference, the NCRG will present its annual Scientific Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the study of gambling-related disorders. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 1, 2011.

For more information about the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, or to register, visit the NCRG’s conference website (www.ncrg.org/conference). To stay up-to-date on year-round educational opportunities and the latest news and issues in the field, visit the NCRG’s blog –Gambling Disorders 360°– and connect with the NCRG onFacebookandTwitter.