Harvard Addictions Expert To Speak On Gambling At University Of Illinois-chicago Seminar

May 1, 2000

BOSTON—A nationally recognized expert on pathological gambling will be the featured speaker at an upcoming seminar on gambling addictions to be held at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Medical Center. Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, director of the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School, will address several key issues on gambling addiction at the May 4 program sponsored by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), including the prevalence of pathological and problem gambling, its relation to other addictions and potential health risks facing casino employees.

Shaffer is the lead author of a groundbreaking 1997 study on the prevalence of disordered gambling in the United States. In the NCRG-funded study, Shaffer reported that approximately 1.29 percent of the adult population are pathological gamblers and that there is a higher rate of the problem among youth and college-age populations.

In addition to Schaffer’s presentation, the seminar will focus on new research trends in gambling disorders and their possible impact on prevention and treatment strategies. Dr. Charles Warren of the University of Illinois-Chicago also will discuss his current research project on problem gambling.

‘Understanding Gambling and Its Potential Health Consequences’ will be held Thursday, May 4, from 9 a.m. until noon at the UIC Medical Center’s Eye and Ear Infirmary. It is free and open to the public and the media. Health care providers in the addictive disorders field, academic researchers and gaming industry personnel in particular are encouraged to attend.

The National Center for Responsible Gaming is the only source of funding dedicated exclusively to peer-reviewed research on gambling disorders. In addition to the NCRG, the UIC School of Public Health, the Gambling Addiction Center at UIC, the Illinois Council on Compulsive and Problem Gambling and the Illinois Casino Gaming Association are cosponsors of the program.

For more information or to register for the seminar, call 816-453-9964 or 978-535-6767.

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Harvard Medical School Releases First Study Funded By The National Center For Responsible Gaming

Dec 4, 1997

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The first study of the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) was released today by the Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. The study – Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-Analysis – was supported by a $140,000 grant from the NCRG.

This study represents the first comprehensive meta-analysis of disordered gambling prevalence rates in the United States and Canada. Meta-analytic research empirically integrates the findings of previously conducted independent studies. The study assembled 120 individual studies of various populations conducted from 1977 through the first half of 1997. These studies represent existing research on the prevalence of disordered gambling.

The NCRG is the result of a unique partnership between industry and academia committed to providing the resources and capabilities for basic and applied scholarly research on gambling disorders. A total of $4.5 million has been pledged in support of the Center over the next 10 years.

The NCRG recently announced the award of two additional scientific research grants. The Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience Research and Education, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio received $120,000 to fund a two-year study that will use brain imaging and blood samples to determine if there is a biochemical basis for compulsive gambling.

The City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California was awarded a grant of $160,000 to support a two-year study in which researchers will look at DNA samples from pathological gamblers to examine possible genetic abnormalities in an effort to determine whether a particular gene predisposes some individuals to compulsive gambling.

Established in 1996, the National Center for Responsible Gaming is the first national organization devoted exclusively to funding research on problem and pathological gambling in order to provide a scientific basis for the development of prevention, education and treatment strategies for problem gambling.

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Harvard Scientist Howard Shaffer Recognized For Exceptional Contributions To Research On Gambling Disorders

Nov 8, 2007

Las Vegas, Nevada– Dr. Howard Shaffer, an early pioneer in the field of addictions and gambling disorders research, has been named recipient of the 2007 National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) Scientific Achievement Award in the senior investigator category.

The senior investigator award honors scientists whose career work has led to important advancements, discoveries or developments in the field of gambling-related research. Shaffer, associate professor of psychology in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance, was selected by an independent awards committee in recognition of his groundbreaking research on gambling and for the profound impact it has had on the way that scientists understand and study addiction.

“For nearly 30 years, Howard Shaffer has been a trailblazer, shaping the way the health care field thinks about and treats addictive behaviors and disordered gambling,” said Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG. “The NCRG is extremely proud to honor Dr. Shaffer, who has consistently brought the highest standards of scientific research to the study of addictions and has steadfastly worked toward the ultimate goal of helping the people affected by gambling disorders.”

The award will be presented at a reception on Nov. 11 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. The presentation is taking place during the 8th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, which is sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program at the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

Shaffer’s distinguished career in research has yielded a number of “firsts” that have significantly advanced understanding of disordered gambling behavior. His 1997 meta-analysis of the prevalence rates of gambling disorders in the U.S. and Canada have been widely recognized as the first reliable estimates of the rate of the disorder (1 to 1.5 percent).

Other firsts include:

  • The first longitudinal study of the health risks of casino employees
  • The first national survey of gambling behaviors and policies on U.S. college and university campuses
  • The first study of Internet sports gambling using actual monetary transaction data
  • The first model for understanding addiction as a syndrome

Beyond his many contributions as a scientist, Shaffer has helped create and strengthen the necessary infrastructure for the growing field of gambling research through his work as editor of the Journal of Gambling Studies and Psychology of Addictive Behaviors and his founding of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, supported by the NCRG. He has written more than 250 chapters, journal articles, and reviews; and published more than 120 newspaper articles and 10 books or monographs.

Recipients of the NCRG Scientific Achievement Awards are selected by an independent committee of leading researchers in the field of addictions and gambling research. The 2007 Awards Committee is chaired by Joseph T. Coyle, the Eben S. Draper Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Other members of the committee include Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology in psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine; Richard I. Evans, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Houston; Peter E. Nathan, Ph.D., professor emeritus of community and behavioral health, University of Iowa; David Lewis, M.D., Donald G. Millar Distinguished Professor of Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University; and Christine Thurmond, administrative director, Division on Addictions, Cambridge Health Alliance. The committee selects the awardees from nominations submitted by the public.

To obtain additional information on NCRG’s conference visitwww.ncrg.org. To obtain press credentials for events related to the conference, or to arrange interviews with conference participants, contact Karen Brandon at 202-530-4739 or 202-468-9902 (from Nov. 11-13).

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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 Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, visitwww.divisiononaddictions.org/institute.

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Harvard Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom About The Course Of Gambling Addiction

Disordered Gambling More Dynamic than Previously Assumed

Feb 13, 2008

WASHINGTON— A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers questions the view of gambling addiction as a progressive and intractable disorder. In their analysis of five longitudinal studies of gambling behavior, the investigators found no evidence to support the commonly held assumptions that individuals cannot recover from the disorder, that more severely disordered individuals are less likely to improve than individuals who are less severely impaired, and that the symptoms of those with some gambling-related problems are more likely to progressively worsen than individuals with few or no symptoms.

According to lead author Debi LaPlante, Ph.D., instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the course of the disorder “appears to be dynamic, with individuals moving back and forth between health and more disordered states, and with a higher rate of recovery than previously assumed.” This finding challenges the portrayal of pathological gambling in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as always “persistent and recurrent.”

LaPlante indicated that these findings could have important implications for diagnosis and treatment. “As researchers learn more about the course of the disorder, health care providers can develop better tailored treatment plans,” she says. “Keep in mind, however, that despite these positive findings, improvement in the health of individuals with gambling-related problems is not a certainty, and the rates of worsening health are still substantial. Clearly, more research is needed to understand these patterns.”

The study was funded primarily by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The NCRG is the only non-profit organization in the United States exclusively dedicated to funding scientific research on gambling disorders.

The article, “Stability and Progression of Disordered Gambling: Lessons from Longitudinal Studies,” was published in the January 2008 issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. To request a copy send an email toinfo@divisiononaddictions.org.

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The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding scientific research on gambling disorders. 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 are distributed through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, visitwww.divisiononaddictions.org/institute.

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Harvard Survey Shows Rate Of College Gambling Lower Than Previous Estimates

Results Suggest Possibility of Fewer Gambling Problems Among Students

Apr 14, 2004

WASHINGTON—The first nationally representative survey of gambling among college students found fewer college students than expected participate in gambling activities, leading researchers at Harvard Medical School to suggest in a new report that the prevalence rate of pathological gambling among college students might be significantly lower than rates reported in previous studies.

The recently published, peer-reviewed article by Richard LaBrie, Ed.D., Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., Debi LaPlante, Ph.D. and Henry Wechsler, Ph.D., analyzed answers to questions on gambling included in the 2001 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS). According to the CAS survey—funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) and the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG)—42 percent of college students gambled in the past year (compared to 82 percent of adults in the most recent national survey of household residents 18 years of age and older), and 2.6 percent gambled at least weekly during the school year (compared to 23 percent in the household survey).

While the study did not attempt to define the prevalence rate of disordered gambling among college students, it isn’t likely to be any higher than the percentage of students who gambled weekly or more frequently, the researchers said. The authors write, “If all the students who gamble weekly or more often met criteria for pathological gambling, college students would be at risk no more from problem gambling than the general adult population is.”

The report concluded that the CAS findings “do not indicate that college students are a group at increased risk for gambling problems compared with their adult counterparts.”

Researchers cautioned, however, that the lower level of participation does not mean there is no risk for college students who do gamble. According to the study, “Although the findings reported in this article do not indicate a large national gambling problem among college students, the promotion of gambling directed at college students and a greater acceptance of Internet gambling could change the current situation.”

These findings contradict the widely held opinion based on previous studies that gambling is prevalent among college students. A previous Harvard Medical School study estimated a higher frequency of gambling among college students and a rate of problem gambling three times the estimate for adults.

According to the researchers, the higher rates of gambling and problems due to gambling reported in earlier studies are likely the result of several shortcomings, including a lack of available data on the gambling behavior of a large representative sample of students and questioning students about events in their lifetime, which would include incidents that occurred before the students were in college.

The 2001 CAS repeated standard questions used in the 1993, 1997 and 1999 surveys to determine rates of college alcohol use and related problems. Gambling questions were added to the 2001 survey in an effort to fill the gap in knowledge about the prevalence of gambling among college students, as well as to determine the existence among these students of problem behavior clusters specifically related to gambling. The survey was conducted using a representative national sample of 10,765 students attending 119 scientifically selected four-year colleges, and students were asked specifically to report gambling done in the past school year.

According to the study, being male and at least 21 years of age were the most significant demographic predictors of being a college gambler. The study also showed that of the 42 percent of college students who reported participating in some form of gambling activity during the past school year, a majority—73 percent—said they participated in only one or two types of gambling, and 94 percent of student gamblers said they wagered no more than a few times a month on any type of gambling. Playing the lottery was the most popular form of gambling, cited by 25 percent of respondents.

In addition to measuring rates of gambling among college students, the Harvard researchers analyzed six different categories of personal characteristics for potential predictors of being a student gambler, including demographics, lifestyle choices, school status and rate of substance-use risk behaviors. Among the six categories of predictors, alcohol-related behaviors were the strongest risk correlates of gambling.

The results found that student gamblers are more likely to drink alcohol, to binge drink and to have unprotected sex as a result of binge drinking. Of the 33 personal behaviors closely linked with binge drinking, 29 were also significantly related to gambling. According to the researchers, this commonality of risky behaviors suggests an underlying problem-behavior syndrome—a tendency to engage in several risky behaviors.

“We’re proud to be one of the sponsors of the survey providing us with the first truly nationally representative data on college student gambling,” said NCRG Chairman Dennis Eckart. “Research like this provides a sound building block for future investigations of gambling on college campuses and contributes to the knowledge base that will eventually lead us toward better prevention and treatment of disordered gambling.”

“Correlates of College Student Gambling in the United States” was published in the September/October edition of theJournal of American College Health. All four researchers are affiliated with the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School; Wechsler also is director of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Studies Program.

The data used in the study were collected under a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropic organization devoted exclusively to health and health care. The project was supported, in part, by the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to research on gambling disorders.

To obtain a copy of the study, contact Christine Reilly (617-384-9028) or Holly Thomsen (202-530-4508).

The NCRG, the only national organization devoted exclusively to public education about and funding of peer-reviewed research on disordered gambling, was established in 1996. The NCRG supports the finest peer-reviewed basic and applied research on gambling disorders; encourages the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic intervention and treatment strategies; and enhances public awareness of pathological and youth gambling. To date, the casino industry and related businesses have committed more than $12 million to this effort, and the NCRG has issued more than $8 million in support of groundbreaking research on gambling disorders. In 2000, the NCRG established the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org.

The Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders is a program of the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School. In accordance with the Harvard University name policy, the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders should not be referred to as the “Harvard Institute…” or the “Harvard Medical School Institute…” For more information about the use of the Harvard name, visithttp://www.hms.harvard.edu/fa/use_of_the_Harvard_name.html.

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Harvard University Addictions Expert To Address Casino Gaming Industry And Mississippi Community About: &Quot;understanding Gambling &Amp; Its Potential Health Consequences"

Apr 29, 1998

WHAT:A seminar featuring a presentation and discussion of the research of
Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions

Dr. Shaffer, co-author of the recently released study ‘Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-analysis‘ and director of Harvard’s Division on Addictions, will present the findings of his research, funded by a grant from the National Center for Responsible Gaming, and address several of the key issues often raised when examining disordered gambling behavior.

WHEN:Wednesday, May 6, 1998
2:30 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.

WHO:Sponsored by:
National Center for Responsible Gaming
Mississippi Council on Compulsive Gambling

WHERE:SOUTHERN GAMING SUMMIT

Room D-5
Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center
Biloxi, Mississippi

A Seminar for:

Educators; Social Services Professionals; Financial Planners; Banking

Industry; EAP Providers; Human Resources Staff; Communications & Public Relations Representatives; Corporate Responsible Gaming Staff; Table Operations Representatives; Executives; Treatment Professionals; Health Care Providers; EAP Providers; Problem Gambling Counselors

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Institute To Play Role In Landmark Analysis Of Problem Gambling Program

Study of Missouri Self-exclusion Program to be Conducted by Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions

Nov 15, 2003

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced that the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a research program at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions established with funding from the NCRG, will execute a landmark study of a Missouri government program that allows individuals to ban themselves from the state’s casinos.

The two-year study – the first-ever scientific investigation of a self-exclusion program – will be funded by a $297,000 grant awarded to Harvard Medical School by the Port Authority of Kansas City, Mo., and the Missouri Gaming Commission. The Institute is the only academic research center in the U.S. devoted exclusively to the study of disordered gambling behavior.

According to NCRG Chairman Dennis Eckart, the self-exclusion project is evidence of the impact of the organization and the tremendous progress in the field of gambling research.

“When the NCRG established the Institute in 2000, one of the goals was to eventually attract and encourage additional funding for research on pathological gambling issues, and now that goal is being realized,” he said. “The Kansas City Port Authority and the state of Missouri have taken a dramatic step in funding an evaluation of their Voluntary Exclusion program, the results of which will help set a benchmark for their future efforts as well as for other self-exclusion programs around the country. We are excited to play a role in this landmark project through our continued funding of the Institute.”

Under terms of the grant, Harvard researchers Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., and Richard LaBrie, Ed.D. will analyze follow-up data from a sample of the 5,000 individuals who have enrolled in the self-exclusion program since 1996. According to Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute, their objective is to evaluate the efficacy of the program as an intervention for people who are showing signs of problems because of their gambling. The study will also inform public health officials in Missouri about where resources are most needed to address this form of addiction first recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980, she said.

The NCRG, the only national organization devoted exclusively to public education about and funding of peer-reviewed research on pathological gambling, was established in 1996. The NCRG supports the finest peer-reviewed basic and applied research on gambling disorders; encourages the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic intervention and treatment strategies; and enhances public awareness of pathological and youth gambling. To date, the casino industry and related businesses have committed more than $12 million to this effort, and the NCRG has issued more than $6 million in support of groundbreaking research on gambling disorders. In 2000, the NCRG established the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions.

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Jcm/aga Fund-raiser Pushes Gaming Contributions For Pathological Gambling Research To $7.4 Million

NCRG also Announces “Call for Nominations” for Scientific Achievement Awards Program

Jun 17, 2002

Kansas City, Mo.—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) received a record $65,000 in proceeds from the Fourth Annual JCM-AGA Golf Classic held recently in Henderson, Nev., driving total gaming industry contributions to the NCRG to $7.4 million.

All proceeds from the golf tournament, hosted by JCM American Corporation and the American Gaming Association (AGA), benefit the NCRG in support of scientific research and education on disordered gambling. In each of its previous three years the tournament has raised up to $50,000 for the NCRG, making this year’s proceeds of $65,000 the largest amount raised to date.

The tournament, held May 13 at the Revere at Anthem, included 29 corporate sponsors and a full playing field of 148 players from the gaming industry and related suppliers and vendors. The event also featured a live auction with golf merchandise and unique vintage wines from Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada.

“We are very proud to do our part in supporting the valuable research that is funded by the NCRG, as well as their public education efforts on disordered gambling,” said Akiyoshi Isoi, president of JCM. “We look forward to next year’s event and our continued involvement in helping to raise awareness of this important issue. It is everyone’s role in the gaming industry and related fields to address this issue and do what we can to help combat the problem.”

The NCRG was created by the gaming industry to address disordered gambling through independent research and education. The organization also promotes public awareness of problem and youth gambling through conferences and other programs for researchers, treatment providers, gaming industry employees and public policy-makers. The research will lead to effective prevention and treatment of disordered gambling and has the potential to unravel the mysteries of a wide range of addictive disorders.

Boyd Gaming Corporation provided the start-up funds for the NCRG in 1996 and made a 10-year pledge of $875,000. Other leading gaming companies, including Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., International Game Technology, Mandalay Resort Group, MGM MIRAGE and Park Place Entertainment Corporation, were early and generous supporters.

Today, with the contributions of the casino gaming industry and its employees, equipment manufacturers, vendors, nongaming organizations and concerned individuals, more than $7 million has been committed to the NCRG. This financial support has enabled the NCRG to attract the best minds from the most prestigious institutions to conduct research in this uncharted field.

To this end, the NCRG recently announced that it will honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of gambling research through a “Scientific Achievement Awards” program. The annual program will recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the study of gambling and gambling-related problems. An independent committee of distinguished leaders in the field of addictions and gambling research will oversee the program.

Nomination categories include a “Young Investigator Award,” which will recognize excellence in scientific contributions in the field of gambling studies by researchers who have received an advanced professional degree within the last 10 years; and a “Senior Investigator Award,” which will honor investigators whose work has led to important advancements, discoveries or developments in the field of gambling related research. Prizes of up to $5,000 will be awarded at the NCRG’s 2002 annual conference in Las Vegas.

NCRG Chairman Maj. Gen. Paul A. Harvey (Ret.) relayed his support for the NCRG’s recent activities. ‘We are extremely grateful to JCM and the AGA for holding their annual golf fund-raiser, which continues to experience tremendous success. Through this generous support, we will continue to make great strides toward helping individuals with gambling-related problems.

“It is equally important to acknowledge those individuals who actually conduct the scientific research into gambling disorders,” added Harvey. “The ground-breaking research that has been carried out in the short time the NCRG has been in existence is proof that we are on a path to a greater understanding of gambling disorders – one that will aid in developing effective tools for prevention and treatment. The NCRG’s scientific achievement awards program is one small way we can say ‘thank you and continue the fine work’.”

JCM American Corporation, located in Las Vegas, is a manufacturer of high quality currency equipment. JCM introduced the bill validator specially designed for the gaming industry in 1985. Since then, the company has introduced a full line of revolutionary products including the World Bill Acceptor (WBA™), which has become the industry standard. JCM is committed to providing the industry with the utmost in security, efficiency and quality.

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

The NCRG was established in 1996 to address the need for a greater understanding of pathological gambling and related disorders. Since 1996, the NCRG has awarded $3.7 million in research grants to more than 20 institutions, and in 2000 awarded a $2.4 million contract to Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions to establish the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders to carry out the research initiatives first established by the NCRG.

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Leading Researchers To Explore New Ground In Treatment, Responsible Gaming And Public Policy – Save The Date

Sep 15, 2008

LAS VEGAS– The 9thAnnual National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) Conference on Gambling and Addiction will explore how the latest research is transforming the way gambling disorders and responsible gaming programming are addressed. The event will bring together industry professionals, regulators, health care providers, policymakers and renowned researchers to discuss advances in research as well as diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The NCRG conference will precede Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2008, the gaming industry’s premier international trade show and conference event, scheduled for Nov. 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

WHAT:

“The Changing Landscape of Treatment, Responsible Gaming and Public Policy,” co-sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at the Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Highlights of the conference include sessions on:
• How pathological gambling could be redefined in the upcoming DSM-V
• High-tech solutions for assessment and counseling
• How to evaluate self-exclusion programs
• The latest approaches to responsible gaming for tribal casinos
• Culturally relevant responsible gaming programs for Asian Americans
• The betting patterns of online gamblers
• Risks of video gaming and implications for youth gambling
• The costs and benefits of gambling from cultural, historical and
economic perspectives

WHEN:

Sunday, Nov. 16 – Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008

WHERE:

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas
Note: The final day of the conference will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center where “NCRG at G2E” sessions will be featured.

WHO:

Participants include nearly 400 leaders representing the scientific, treatment, public health, public policy and industry sectors. Featured speakers include:
• Glenn C. Christenson, member of the board, NCRG
• Dr. Katherine Spilde Contreras, San Diego State University
• Dr. Linda B. Cottler, Washington University School of Medicine,
St. Louis
• Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs, MGM MIRAGE
• Dr. Lawrence Kutner, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Dr. Howard J. Shaffer, Harvard Medical School

To register for the conference, receive a full schedule of conference events, or for interview requests, please contact Mary Ann Fitzgerald at 202-530-4824 ormfitzgerald@ncrg.org. A conference schedule also is available atwww.ncrg.org/assets/files/NCRG_Conf_Brochure_08_FINAL.pdf.

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Media Briefing To Detail Impact Of NCRG On Gambling Research

Nov 20, 2003

WHAT:

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) was founded in 1996 as the first national organization devoted exclusively to funding independent, peer-reviewed scientific research on pathological and youth gambling. But exactly what has the organization accomplished over the past eight years?

“The NCRG: An Impact Analysis,” is the first media event designed to present reporters with detailed information on the specific accomplishments of the NCRG and its measurable impact on the way we think about gambling disorders.Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders and former executive director of the NCRG, will present a detailed analysis of the NCRG’s impact to date, andDennis E. Eckart, chairman of the NCRG, will discuss the organization’s plans for the future. The discussion will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the media.

WHEN:

Monday, December 8, 2003
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
North Concourse Room #109
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South

The NCRG Media Briefing is being held in conjunction with the fourth annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, taking place Dec. 7-9 at the MGM Grand. To obtain press credentials for the media briefing or other events related to the conference, or to arrange for one-on-one interviews with participants, contact Holly Thomsen at 202-530-4508.

The NCRG, the only national organization devoted exclusively to public education about and funding of peer-reviewed research on disordered gambling, was established in 1996. The NCRG supports the finest peer-reviewed basic and applied research on gambling disorders; encourages the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic intervention and treatment strategies; and enhances public awareness of pathological and youth gambling. To date, the casino industry and related businesses have committed more than $13 million to this effort, and the NCRG has issued more than $8 million in support of groundbreaking research on gambling disorders. In 2000, the NCRG established the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. For more information, visitwww.ncrg.org.

The Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders is a program of the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School. In accordance with the Harvard University name policy, the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders should not be referred to as the “Harvard Institute…” or the “Harvard Medical School Institute…” For more information about the use of the Harvard name,visithttp://www.hms.harvard.edu/fa/use_of_the_Harvard_name.html.

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