New Awards Program To Recognize Achievements In Pathological Gambling Research

National Center for Responsible Gaming Will Honor Scientific Excellence in Emerging Field

Dec 17, 2001

LAS VEGAS—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), which in five years has transformed pathological gambling research by supporting only the most rigorous and independent peer-reviewed investigations, has established an annual awards program that will recognize scientific contributions to this emerging field.

Nominations in seven categories will be accepted, including Early Career Contribution; Distinguished Career Contribution; Outstanding Journal Article; Outstanding Neuroscience Research; Outstanding Social and Behavioral Science Research; Outstanding Public Health Research; and Outstanding Public Policy Research.

A selection committee composed of members of the program advisory board of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions will review all nominations. Members of the advisory board include leading academic researchers in the field of mental health and addictions, such as Herbert D. Kleber, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; David C. Lewis, M.D., professor of medicine and project director for Brown University; and Barry Kosofsky, M.D., Ph.D., associate neurologist, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

‘For a field that is relatively new compared to other areas of science, it is important that we recognize those individuals who have significantly contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge focusing on gambling disorders,’ said Maj. Gen. Paul Harvey (ret.), NCRG board chairman. ‘The more scientific knowledge that is gained through rigorous research about this complex issue, the closer we are to having better applications for the diagnosis and treatment of problems.’

Awards will be given exclusively on the scientific merits of nominees and will be presented at the 2002 annual scientific conference sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. Sponsors of this awards program will include Argosy Gaming Corporation, Boyd Gaming Corporation, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., MGM MIRAGE, Station Casinos Inc. and others.

The scientific awards program was approved by the NCRG board of directors, which met here earlier this month. The board meeting was held in conjunction with the 2001 annual conference, ‘Toward Meaningful Diagnosis of Gambling Disorders: From Theory to Practice.’ The two-day conference, which explored the issues associated with developing a clear definition of pathological gambling and methods for diagnosis, also was sponsored by the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.

‘This is a very youthful field that’s just beginning to boom,’ said Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., director of Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. ‘Because it’s a young field, we don’t know nearly as much as we think we do. My hope is that through continued scrupulous research, we will advance this field to a point where we can diagnose a pathological gambler before the destructive problems play out.’

The conference attracted approximately 140 attendees, including clinicians, academic researchers, treatment providers, public policy-makers, gaming regulators, gaming industry employees and staff from state councils on problem gambling.

The conference served as a forum to discuss the need for more research to help identify the nature of gambling disorders – to determine whether problem gambling is the core problem or is just a symptom of another problem, such as alcoholism or depression. Also discussed at the conference were several new studies that are in the planning stages to examine how problem gambling effects various segments of the population, such as women and youth.

In addition to the scientific awards program, the NCRG board also approved the implementation of a communications/media outreach plan for the NCRG to further raise awareness of the work being funded by the NCRG as well as its public education programs. The NCRG also hopes to raise its visibility as a valuable resource on responsible gaming for academics, industry and the media. As part of this communication effort, the NCRG, in conjunction with the American Gaming Association, released the first issue of Responsible Gaming Quarterly (RGQ), devoted to highlighting initiatives throughout the industry, government, academia and the treatment community to address disordered gambling.

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 $2.6 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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New Directions In Gambling Addiction Research

Jan 28, 1999

A conference on gambling addiction sponsored by The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and The George Washington University featuring fifteen noted research scientists from the United States and Canada.

  • Keynote address:Addiction is a Brain Disease and It Matters
    Dr. Alan I. Leshner, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
  • Lunch program:The Harvard Project on Gambling and Health
    Dr. Howard Shaffer, director, Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions
  • Announcement of 1999 research grant awards by Maj. General Paul Harvey (Ret.), chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Responsible Gaming

February 5, 1999
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The George Washington University
Marvin Center (2nd floor)
Washington, DC

NCRG-supported researchers to report findings of investigations using the latest research technology in genetics, brain imaging and other innovative approaches to understand disordered gambling behavior.

Morning sessions:Dr. Alan I. Leshner,Addiction is a Brain Disease and It Matters
Panel:The Neurobiology of Disordered Gambling
Panel:Behavioral and Social Science Research on Disordered Gambling

Afternoon sessions:Defining Pathological Gambling
Youth Gambling: Perspectives from the Field
Prevention Issues
Molecular Mechanisms of Addiction

To register, call the National Center for Responsible Gaming (816-531-1878). E-mail: cjr@ncrg.org.

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New Funding Commitments To NCRG Top $7.6 Million

Gaming Industry Support Will Enable Continued Research and Education on Gambling Disorders

Sep 26, 2007

Washington, DC:The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) announced today more than $7.6 million in new commitments from the casino gaming industry to fund groundbreaking research into gambling disorders. The new funding, committed over a five-year period, will allow the NCRG to continue to support this research, as well as encourage the application of new research findings to improve prevention and treatment strategies, and advance public education about responsible gaming.

Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG, and former chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, is proud of the success of this most recent fundraising initiative.

“The NCRG has been the largest private financial supporter of research into gambling disorders for more than a decade,” Satre said. “This new support from both new and previous funders underscores how critical the NCRG’s work has been and will continue to be in the future.”

The companies, thus far, that have committed new or renewed funding over the next five years include:

  • Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. ($2,000,000)
  • MGM MIRAGE ($2,000,000)
  • International Game Technology ($1,000,000)
  • Ameristar Casinos, Inc. ($500,000)
  • Boyd Gaming Corporation ($500,000)
  • Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. ($500,000)
  • Penn National Gaming, Inc. ($250,000)
  • Station Casinos, Inc. ($250,000)
  • WMS Industries ($250,000)
  • Wynn Resorts, Limited ($225,000)
  • Bally Technologies ($125,000)

During its first 11 years, more than $15 million was committed to the NCRG through contributions from the gaming industry, equipment manufacturers, vendors and others.

This earlier support has funded about 140 studies by more than 30 prestigious institutions including Harvard Medical School, Yale University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University.

Founded in 1996, the NCRG is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding independent research on pathological and youth gambling, and to find methods of treatment. The NCRG also explores how research can be translated into practical uses, including responsible gaming programs and treatment, and works to increase public awareness about disordered gambling.

Although much has been accomplished, Satre says the work of the NCRG is far from over.

“The NCRG has funded some of the most significant research ever conducted on gambling addiction, and has provided science-based education on gambling disorders and responsible gaming. But there is much we still need to do,” he said. “With these most recent funding commitments, we are looking forward to accomplishing much more in the future.”

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New NCRG Publication Highlights Latest Research On Recovery From Gambling Disorders

Series Seeks to Bring Gambling Research Directly into Hands of Wider Audience

Nov 12, 2007

LAS VEGAS– Critical information about how people recover from gambling addiction is highlighted in a new publication released today by the National Center for Responsible Gaming. This is the second volume ofIncreasing the Odds: A Series Dedicated to Understanding Gambling Disorders. With a theme of “Roads to Recovery,” the publication highlights major scientific studies on various aspects of recovery, including formal treatment, self-help and relapse. The series is part of the NCRG’s ongoing efforts to increase awareness and understanding about gambling disorders.

“This monograph series is one way for us to share important research beyond academia to health care providers, public health workers, the gaming industry and individuals who might be concerned about their own gambling,” explains Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG Board of Directors and retired chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. “Bridging the knowledge gap between science and the public is a priority for our organization.”

Volume two includes summaries of studies by: David Hodgins, Ph.D., on the importance of understanding the triggers that might cause a person to relapse; Nancy Petry, Ph.D., on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and Gamblers Anonymous; Wendy Slutske, Ph.D., on the finding that approximately one-third of disordered gamblers recover on their own; Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., on cognitive treatment techniques, such as social skills and problem solving training; and Jon Grant, M.D., on drug treatment options for gambling disorders, including antidepressants and mood stabilizers.

“The research has important implications for how health care providers, communities, insurance companies and public health planners respond to the needs of people struggling with gambling disorders,” Satre says.

The monograph’s first issue focused on youth and college gambling. Both issues are available athttp://www.ncrg.org/resources/monographs.cfm.

About NCRG

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’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorders by supporting the finest peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological and youth gambling; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about responsible gaming. 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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Nominations Now Open For 2005 NCRG Scientific Achievement Awards

Outstanding Contributions in Gambling Research To Be Recognized

Jul 13, 2005

Washington, D.C. –Nominations are now being accepted for the most prestigious awards available in the field of gambling research. Sponsored by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), the Scientific Achievement Awards will be presented at a special event during the 6thAnnualNCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction: Finding Common Ground on Prevention, Policy and Treatment scheduled for Dec. 7-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

TheNCRG Scientific Achievement Awards, offered in the categories of Young Investigator Award and Senior Investigator Award, were started in 2002 to recognize distinguished contributions to the field of disordered gambling research. Recipients receive monetary awards as well as travel and registration for the conference.

The Young Investigator Award recognizes excellence in scientific contributions to the field of gambling studies by a researcher whose advanced academic or professional degree was received within the past ten years. Previous recipients include Nancy Petry, Ph.D., University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Marc Potenza, M.D., Ph.D., Yale University; Renee Cunningham-Williams, Ph.D. (Honorable Mention), Washington University School of Medicine; and Jon E. Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H., Brown University.

The Senior Investigator Award honors an investigator whose body of work has advanced the field of gambling-related research, leading to important advances, discoveries or developments. This award has been presented to Robert Custer, M.D., U.S. Veterans Administration, posthumously; Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., Université Laval; and Alexander Blaszczynski, Ph.D., University of Sydney.

All submitted nominations are reviewed by an independent committee of distinguished leaders in the field of addictions and gambling research chaired by Dr. Joseph T. Coyle, Eben S. Draper professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.

Nominations are due by Sept. 12, 2005, and award recipients will be notified no later than Oct. 7, 2005. Complete nomination guidelines are available in therequest for nominations.

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 $15 million to this effort, and the NCRG has issued more than $8 million in support of groundbreaking research on gambling disorders.

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Pathological Gambling Linked To Other Psychiatric Disorders

Newly Released Monograph from NCRG Examines Disordered Gambling through a Public Health Lens

Nov 17, 2008

LAS VEGAS– More than 96 percent of people who have had pathological gambling in their lifetime also have suffered from an additional psychiatric or substance-abuse disorder, according to research summarized in the latest volume ofIncreasing the Odds: A Series Dedicated to Understanding Gambling Disorders. Released today by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), this publication is the fourth volume in the NCRG’sIncreasing the Oddsmonograph series and the second of two monographs dedicated to exploring gambling through a public health lens. “Gambling and the Public Health, Part 2” features scientific research that can inform public health strategies and responsible gaming programs designed to reduce gambling-related harms.

“The monograph series is a vehicle for sharing new and critical research on gambling disorders with the public,” says Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG. “The studies highlighted in this latest volume examine disordered gambling behavior as a public health issue, assessing the social, cultural and economic variables that influence the condition.”

“Gambling and the Public Health, Part 2” was released today at the 9th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction in Las Vegas. The publication includes a summary by Ronald C. Kessler, Ph.D., of new research on the prevalence of other mental disorders among pathological gamblers. According to the study, nearly all pathological gamblers are affected by an additional psychiatric condition, such as mood, anxiety, impulse-control and substance-abuse disorders. Additionally, those disorders typically surface at an earlier age than gambling disorders, suggesting that they may actually cause the subsequent onset of pathological gambling.

The publication also includes research summaries from Alex Blaszczynski, Ph.D., on a strategic framework for creating effective responsible gaming programs and public policies; Allyson J. Peller, M.P.H., on whether new gambling technology – including online gambling Web sites and electronic gaming machines – affects player behavior; Richard A. LaBrie, Ed.D., on how self-exclusion data can provide a valid measure of the prevalence of gambling disorders and inform public health planners; and Robert Ladouceur, Ph.D., on the efficacy of a self-exclusion program in Quebec.

“Gambling and the Public Health, Part 1” includes research on pathological gambling prevalence rates, the demographic characteristics of youth gamblers and the effects of increased exposure to gambling. Both publications are available online atwww.ncrg.org/resources/monographs.cfm.

About the NCRG
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’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorders by supporting the finest peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological and youth gambling; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about responsible gaming. The NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s 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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Pathological Gambling Report Released

Report Finds National Research Council and National Center for Responsible Gaming in Agreement

Mar 18, 1999

Washington, D.C.,—March 18, 1999—Released by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences today, ‘Pathological Gambling,’ validates the work of the National Center for Responsible Gaming. The NCRG is the only national funding center for peer reviewed scientific research on disordered gambling. The executive summary of the NRC report was presented to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission and concluded that more rigorous research is needed to prevent and treat pathological gambling.

NCRG Executive Director Christine Reilly said that the ‘National Research Council report confirms the NCRG’s efforts to bring higher scientific standards to research on disordered gambling and it is gratifying to learn that our leadership has identified the same concerns as one of the most prestigious academic bodies in the nation.’

The NCRG agrees with the following points in the executive summary of the NRC report:

  • The limitations of current screening instruments indicate the need for more research and testing. The NCRG is funding the type of research that will eventually provide a gold standard by which to measure the accuracy of these instruments.
  • The strong familial factors observed in disordered gamblers show the need for genetics studies. The NCRG is currently funding three research projects on the role that genetics play in the development of the disorder.
  • Estimates of the prevalence of disordered gambling among the general adult U.S. population are in the range of 0.9% -1.5%. The NRC estimates prevalence rate of disordered gambling 0.9% prior year and 1.5% over the course of a lifetime. The NCRG-funded Harvard Medical School study (1997) estimates a 1.29% prevalence rate among the adult population.
  • A higher rate of disordered gambling is found in the youth population. The NCRG is currently supporting five research investigations of youth gambling.
  • Treatment programs should be evaluated rigorously. The NCRG is currently supporting clinical trials of cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug therapy.
  • Past research on disordered gambling is of ‘limited scientific value.’ Consequently, the NCRG uses the rigorous standards of the National Institutes of Health to evaluate research proposals.

The NCRG, an independent nonprofit (501 C 3) organization affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has awarded a total of $2.5 million in research grants since 1996.

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Research On Gambling Addiction Yields Breakthroughs

National Center for Responsible Gaming-funded studies debut in leading scientific journals

Jun 1, 2001

KANSAS CITY, MO—The drug naltrexone has been found to significantly reduce gambling urges and behaviors among pathological gamblers, according to a University of Minnesota study reported in the June 1, 2001, issue of Biological Psychiatry.

The clinical trial, funded by a $54,000 grant from the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), found that 75 percent of the patients receiving naltrexone improved in terms of their urges to gamble. Because of naltrexone’s actions in the brain areas that process pleasure and urges, the study’s lead investigator, Suck Won Kim, M.D., had theorized that this drug would be useful for treating pathological gambling. Naltrexone has been effective in the treatment of alcoholism and bulimia.

‘Gambling has taken control of my life,’ said Beth Irvin, who is now being treated with naltrexone. ‘I’ve tried to control this addiction in hundreds of other ways and I believe what I’m experiencing today is a miracle of science.’

The publication of the naltrexone trial follows on the heels of the release of another NCRG-funded study of the brain’s reward circuitry. A grant of $175,000 from the NCRG to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) helped support a study, published in last week’s issue of Neuron, examining how the human brain responds to the anticipation and reward of money.

The researchers, led by Hans Breiter, M.D., co-director of the Motivation and Emotion Neuroscience Center at MGH, used the neuroimaging process called functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor the brain activity of volunteers participating in a game of chance. ‘This is the first demonstration that a monetary reward in a gambling-like experiment produces brain activation very similar to that observed in a cocaine addict receiving an infusion of cocaine,’ Breiter said.

‘We are very proud to have supported cutting-edge research that will help us understand and treat gambling disorders,’ said Maj. Gen. Paul A. Harvey (Ret.), chairman of the NCRG.

‘Furthermore, we are gratified that two of the most prestigious academic journals have confirmed the rigorous review process that we used to select these projects for funding.’

The NCRG has awarded $3.7 million in research grants since 1996 and an additional $2.3 million to establish the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions. A landmark 1997 Harvard study, funded by the NCRG, estimated that approximately 1 percent of the adult population can be classified as pathological gamblers. This estimate is now widely accepted as the most reliable statistic about the prevalence of gambling disorders.

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Research Organization Addresses Problem Gambling At Meeting Of State Government Leaders

Jun 16, 1999

KANSAS CITY, MO—The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) has been invited by the Public Sector Gaming Commission to testify at its hearings in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 18-19. The commission is studying the social and economic impact of gaming as it pertains to state and local government.

The NCRG’s executive director, Christine Reilly, will discuss the findings of the nineteen research investigations currently funded by the NCRG, including the Harvard Medical School study of the prevalence of the disorder. She will also announce that the NCRG is planning a second national conference to follow up its successful 1999 conference on new directions in gambling research. The NCRG is the first and only nationwide funding source for scientific research on gambling disorders.

‘Our research, which will help us understand why approximately 1.5 percent of the adult population suffers from a gambling disorder, is crucial to developing effective prevention and treatment programs—areas of special concern to state and local government,’ Reilly said.

The idea for the NCRG’s second conference grew out of the deliberations of the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences. The NRC produced the report, Pathological Gambling, for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, created by Congress. The NRC report stated that past research on problem gambling was generally of limited scientific value and praised the more recent research, mostly funded by NCRG, as more rigorous and more reliable.

Reilly observed, ‘The soon-to-be-released reports of both the National Research Council and the National Gambling Impact Study recommend what the NCRG has already been doing for three years—supporting and promoting high quality research on gambling disorders.’

The National Center for Responsible Gaming, which is funded by casino companies, is affiliated with the University of Missouri, Kansas City. For more information, call 816-531-1878.

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Scientists Gather For Conference On Gambling Addiction

National Center for Responsible Gaming, The George Washington University to Host Ground-breaking event

Jan 12, 1999

KANSAS CITY, MO.—Fifteen of the most noted research scientists in the U.S. and Canada will meet February 5, 1999, on the campus of The George Washington University to discuss ‘New Directions in Gambling Addiction Research’ at a conference sponsored by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and GW.

The keynote address, ‘Addiction is a Brain Disease and It Matters,’ will be delivered by Dr. Alan Leshner, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. NCRG-supported researchers will report findings on the use of the latest technology in genetics and neuroimaging to understand disordered gambling behavior. Papers will also be presented on youth gambling. At the luncheon and afternoon sessions of the conference, there will be debate on the definition of pathological gambling and discussion of prevention issues.

Maj. Gen. Paul A. Harvey, chair of the NCRG’s governing board, says the mental health problem of gambling addiction warrants much further study. ‘The public is confused, and rightly so, about problem gambling. The NCRG is making great strides in meeting the need for research on this disorder and in generating more informed dialogue.’

Since its founding in 1996, the NCRG has committed $1.5 million in research grants to institutions including Harvard Medical School, the University of Minnesota, and the City of Hope National Medical Center. The NCRG is a division of the Gaming Entertainment Research and Education Foundation, a separately incorporated, independent, nonprofit organization affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Advance registration for ‘New Directions in Gambling Addiction Research’ conference is required. Contact the National Center for Responsible Gaming at 816-531-1878 or visit www.ncrg.org for a schedule and registration form.

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