NCRG Conference Program Packed With Gambling Disorders And Addiction Experts

In just over a week, stakeholders in the fields of gambling disorders, addiction and responsible gaming will gather at the14th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addictionat The Sands Expo and Convention Center at the Venetian Las Vegas.

The 2013 NCRG Conference will feature national leaders in gambling disorder research and treatment, public health, academia and the gaming industry and will present on key topics that will unite the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming.

This year, the NCRG is excited to feature the following speakers:

Dr. William E. Narrow

William E. Narrow, M.D., M.P.H.,is an associate director of the Division of Research at the American Psychiatric Association and research director of the DSM-5 Task Force

Anne M. Fletcher

Anne M. Fletcher, M.S., R.D.,is an award-winning health and medical writer, speaker and consultant on the topics of weight management and Iifestyle change, as well as treatment and recovery from addiction

Dr. Kafui Dzirasa

Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D.,is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the division of geriatric psychiatry at the Duke University School of Medicine

Shirley Beckett Mikell

Shirley Beckett Mikell, NCAC II, CAC II, SAP,is the director of certification and education and National Certification Commission staff liaison at NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals

Dr. Jon E. Grant

Jon E. Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H.,is a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at The University of Chicago (UC) and the principal investigator of the NCRG Center of Excellence in Gambling Research at UC

In total, the NCRG is excited to welcome more than 20 leading experts as presenters at the NCRG Conference this year, and we hope you’ll join us to hear their exciting and informative presentations.

If you haven’t already done so,click here to register.

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Last Chance To Save Up To $200 On NCRG Conference Registration!

Don’t miss your chance to gain access to the latest information about gambling disorders and responsible gaming at the14th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, taking place September 22-24, 2013 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.

For more than a decade, the NCRG Conference has provided a unique forum where all stakeholders in the field of gambling disorders and responsible gaming come together to discuss the latest research, share best practices and explore real-world applications for new scientific findings.

This three-day conference is designed to enhance your professional development—whether you’re in the health care sector, the gaming industry, government or academia—by providing the following benefits:

  • Network with more than 300 conference attendees and industry leaders
  • Talk with the world’s leading addictions experts
  • Earn up to 13 hours of continuing education credit
  • Gain a critical perspective to develop and evaluate policies that address gambling disorders
  • See the latest research at the annual poster session
  • Attend interactive pre-conference workshops
  • And more!

Click herefor more information and to register for the 14th annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction!

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Rgew Ends Today, But The NCRG Conference Will Keep The Conversation Going

The16thannual Responsible Gaming Education Week(RGEW) comes to a close today, but that doesn’t mean that promoting responsible gaming best practices will stop there. Join us next month at the14thannual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addictionfrom September 22-24, where we will continue the conversation during several conference sessions that give insights for effective responsible gaming programs.

Sunday, September 22, 2013; 4 – 5 p.m.

The Intersection of Science and Policy: A Town Hall Meeting

Panel: Peter Cohen, The Agenda Group; Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., University of Florida; Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Gaming regulators worldwide often are tasked to develop and monitor responsible gaming practices and policies, including programs such as self-exclusion. However, the research on these types of efforts has lagged behind, leaving regulators wondering how to proceed in an effective way. This town hall meeting will provide policy makers and other gaming stakeholders the opportunity to meet face-to-face with scientists and discuss responsible gaming best practices. This session also is intended to foster a discussion about where research is needed to better inform programs and policies.

Monday, September 23, 2013; 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Evaluating Responsible Gaming Strategies: What Regulators Need to Know

Speaker: Debi LaPlante, Ph.D., Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School

Responsible gaming policies and practices like self-exclusion and employee education have multiplied worldwide in recent years. But how do we judge the safety and effectiveness of these programs? Dr. LaPlante will discuss the importance of using a scientific approach to evaluate responsible gaming programs, drawing on studies conducted by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, which have focused on both Internet and bricks-and-mortar gambling environments.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013; 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.(NCRG at G2E)

Behind the Screen: Characteristics of Internet Gamblers Who Trigger Responsible Gambling Interventions

Speaker: Heather Gray, Ph.D., Cambridge Health Alliance

As the conversation about Internet gambling grows, discussions continue about the impact that new technology can have on gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Dr. Gray will report on a study looking at what responsible gaming interventions can tell us about those who gamble online and may have potential gambling problems. The study provides additional confirmation that a set of monetary and nonmonetary behaviors distinguishes individuals who might be experiencing gambling problems from other Internet gamblers who are not experiencing such problems: namely, frequency and time spent gambling.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013; 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.(NCRG at G2E)

Cause Marketing: Lessons for the Effective Promotion of Responsible Gaming

Panel: Jim Gentleman, SK+G; Ed Chansky, Greenberg Traurig LLP

The casino industry has produced numerous responsible gaming products that encourage customers to “keep it fun.” But do guests always absorb the message of responsible gaming? During this session, learn how other causes and industries have approached the communication of their public interest messaging. Success, obstacles and implications for the gaming industry will be discussed.

Have you registered for the NCRG Conference yet?Register by August 30 to receive the Early Bird Discount!For more information,click here.

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NCRG Brochures Help Guide The Conversation About Responsible Gaming Internationally

Talking with Children about Gambling

How do you say “responsible gaming?” The NCRG is making it a bit easier to do so by translating various resources into other languages, including Spanish, French, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese. During this year’s Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), the NCRG is excited to share that its “Talking with Children about Gambling Brochure” is now available in these languages. And we aren’t stopping there! We are also excited to give a preview of additional resources that will be translated later this year.

RGEW is a time where many of the resources from theAmerican Gaming Association (AGA)and the NCRG are put on display, but this year’s events particularly highlight how responsible gaming needs to reach a broader, more diverse audience. The NCRG developed “Talking with Children about Gambling” in 2009 in partnership with the Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The research-based guide is designed to help parents, as well as others who work with youth, deter children from gambling and recognize possible warning signs of problem gambling and other risky behaviors.

“Talking with Children about Gambling” is not the only NCRG publication in six languages. In the coming weeks, the NCRG will release various resources to help reach a global population. These materials include the College Gambling brochure and the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen, and they will be put online as a free download on theNCRG website.

A key component of gambling responsibly is to understand the odds of games and know that the odds of winning are with the house. To help educate the public about responsible gaming, the AGA also translated its more widely used responsible gaming brochures into these same languages.“The House Advantage: A Guide to Understanding the Odds”gives a breakdown of the odds of different casino games.“Taking the Mystery out of the Machine”explains how slot machines work, and“Keeping it Fun: A Guide to Responsible Gaming”discusses ways to gamble responsibly and set personal limits to determine whether, when and how much to gamble.

Make sure to check out all of these resources online on the NCRG and AGA websites. Are there other languages that the NCRG and AGA should include when translating materials? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Rgew 2013 Is Here: Help Us Encourage Responsible Gaming

Today marks the first day of the16th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), a joint initiative by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and the American Gaming Association (AGA) to promote responsible gaming. This year’s theme, “How Do You Say Responsible Gaming?” promotes the message that no matter what language gaming employees and customers speak, it is important that they all understand responsible gaming.

RGEW was developed in 1998 as part of the Responsible Gaming National Education Campaign, a long-term, comprehensive program spearheaded by the AGA. RGEW is designed to heighten awareness of responsible gaming and gambling disorders among employees, customers and the general public.

In anticipation of this year’s RGEW, the AGA and the NCRG released new responsible gaming videos. The NCRG’s video is titled“What is a Gambling Disorder?”and explains in simple language the science that informs our understanding of gambling disorders. The AGA’s“What Are the Odds?”video illustrates the house advantage inherent in all casino games and demonstrates how America’s favorite game – the slot machine – actually works.

For this year’s RGEW, the NCRG and AGA are making several of our most popular responsible gaming brochures available for the first time in French, Korean, traditional Chinese and Vietnamese—in addition to English and Spanish. (We’ll tell you more about these brochures in blog post later this week!)

The NCRG will be sharing several of its responsible gaming resources throughout the week – so stay tuned! In the meantime, you canread more about RGEW 2013 here.

Please join us this week—and every week—to encourage responsible gaming!

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Treating Addiction Is A Complex Issue – Observations From The NCRG Staff

The NCRG Webinar Series is a great way to obtain the essential training for clinicians and researchers to understand science-based information about gambling disorders and responsible gaming. We like to cover a wide variety of topics related to this issue and give a diverse group of people the tools they need to apply the research findings to their everyday lives.

This is the same approach that we take during the pre-conference workshops for the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. Last year, we had the pleasure of having Mark Dixon, Ph.D., from Southern Illinois University lead aworkshop on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). We were excited when he agreed to do an NCRG webinar on this topic more than 200 attendees last week.

Dr. Dixon’s presentation covered the basis of ACT. For those of you who don’t know, ACT is a unique evidenced-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies together with commitment and behavior change strategies to increase psychological flexibility. It is considered a second generation cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model and is based on behavioral principles on the nature of language and cognition. He also outlinedthe six tenets of ACT: contact with the present moment, acceptance, diffusion, self as context, values and committed actions.

By explaining the difference between ACT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and other therapeutic options, Dr. Dixon’s presentation elicited one very clear observation:there is no treatment standard for gambling disorders yet. As with any other psychological disorder, individuals can respond differently to treatment. Research has also shown that, in some cases, those with a gambling disorder can even enter recovery on their own. One person may be very responsive to CBT, being able to recognize their thought process that makes them want to gamble and modifying their behavior accordingly. Another person may be more receptive to ACT, allowing them to accept what they’re thinking and find other committed actions, instead of gambling, that align with their core values.

Treatment for addiction, whether substance use or one that is substance-less such as a gambling disorder, can vary for the individual. For clinicians and researchers, it is most important to understand and use evidence-based therapy techniques. If not, we have no measure by which to evaluate a treatment strategy for addiction.

For those of who you attended theNCRG webinar on July 31, what did you take away from Dr. Dixon’s session? Please leave your comments in the section below.

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Register Now For The NCRG’s Free Webinar On Act For Gambling Disorders And Other Addictive Behaviors

Dr. Mark Dixon will lead NCRG Webinar

Next Wednesday, July 31, 2013, the NCRG will hold afree webinarfrom 2-3 p.m. on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a unique evidence-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies together with commitment and behavior change strategies to increase psychological flexibility. ACT is considered a second generation cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model and is based on behavioral principles on the nature of language and cognition.

Mark Dixon, Ph.D.,professor and coordinator for the Behavior Analysis and Therapy Program at Southern Illinois University, will lead this webinar and will discuss how he uses ACT with clients who have gambling and other addictive disorders.

The NCRG Webinar Series sessions are approved for one hour of continuing education by:

  • NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #737)
  • The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (for MFT and LCSW licensure requirements in California) (Approval #PCE 4619)
  • The National Board for Certified Counselors (provider #6474)
  • The NCRG is also approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The NCRG maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

This is sure to be an informative session, soregister todayto secure you spot!

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The Discovery Project: Get The Facts At Your Fingertips!

The Discovery Project

“This is the type of site you will want to visit again and again to stay up to date with the latest information on gambling disorders and responsible gaming,” said NCRG Chairman Alan Feldman.

Last week, the NCRG unveiled its newest resource:The Discovery Project. Located on the NCRG website, The Discovery Project is an easy-to-use online library for finding the latest science-based information on gambling disorders and responsible gaming. It synthesizes the NCRG’s numerous resources—including videos, guidebooks, brochures and condensed information on research studies—and allows users to search for information by date, keyword, topic or content type.

To further enhance The Discovery Project, the NCRG also created topic-specific fact sheets that cover the most pressing topics in the field, including: the prevalence of gambling disorders; the impact of proximity and exposure to gambling on gambling disorders; brief screens and assessments; and more. Like all materials developed by the NCRG and included within The Discovery Project, the fact sheets were developed using findings from scientific, peer-reviewed research studies.

Feldman commented on why the NCRG created The Discovery Project:

‘For those who don’t regularly pore through dense research articles, the NCRG developed The Discovery Project. This useful tool breaks down the latest scientific information into easily understandable resources that can be used and shared.”

The Discovery Project will be continually updated to address and explain other relevant topics. The NCRG encourages you to visit The Discovery Project and hopes you will share it with your colleagues and friends.

Are there any specific topics you would like addressed within The Discovery Project? Leave your suggestions below.

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Drs. David Hodgins, Gloria Miele And Wendy Slutske Named To NCRG Scientific Advisory Board

Earlier this week, the NCRG sharedtwo exciting announcementsabout itsScientific Advisory Board(SAB). First,Ken Winters, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse at the University of Minnesota, was named the next chairman of the NCRG’s SAB. (Read the blog post here.)

The NCRG also added three new members with diverse research backgrounds.

  • David Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the department of psychology and institute node coordinator for the University of Calgary, Alberta Gaming Research Institute;
  • Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D., instructor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and principal at Optimal Development Coaching; and
  • Wendy Slutske, Ph.D., professor in the department of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Dr. David Hodgins
Dr. Gloria Miele
Dr. Wendy Slutske

Commenting on these new members, Dr. Winters said:

“We are also thrilled to welcome Drs. Hodgins, Miele and Slutske as new board members. With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, I am confident that they will make invaluable contributions to help further the organization and its goal of supporting high-quality research.”

Here’s more about the three additions to the SAB:

Dr. David Hodgins

At the University of Calgary, Dr. Hodgins focuses on three interrelated lines of cutting-edge research in the area of gambling disorders—natural history research, the design and evaluation of brief interventions, and the study of the precipitants of relapse to gambling disorders. His research on brief treatment interventions is recognized around the world and is listed as an evidence-based treatment by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dr. Hodgins has published more than 100 articles in prestigious scientific journals, and has authored and co-authored a number of books on this topic. He was also the recipient of the 2010 NCRG Scientific Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contributions to this field of research.

Dr. Gloria Miele

In addition to her role as a professor at Columbia University, Dr. Miele is a business development and leadership coach, speaker, consultant and trainer who has been helping people reach their goals for more than 25 years. She previously served as a training director and research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University where she developed training programs on good research practices, HIV risk behavior assessment, diagnostic interviewing and behavioral interventions. Prior to this, she was the program director for the Women’s Health Project Treatment and Research Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where she developed programs and treatment strategies for women with a history of trauma and substance abuse. She has also contributed to more than 30 publications and serves as a reviewer for several high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Wendy Slutske

Dr. Slutske has been with the University of Missouri-Columbia since 1997 and is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on the behavioral genetics of gambling disorders. Her work on the landmark all-male Vietnam Era Twin Study demonstrated that there are shared susceptibility genes that contribute to the risk for gambling disorders, alcohol use disorders and antisocial behavior. Dr. Slutske’s analysis of large epidemiological studies has also led to the groundbreaking finding that gambling disorders are episodic rather than chronic. She has published more than 100 articles in highly-cited, peer-reviewed journals and was the recipient of the 2011 NCRG Scientific Achievement Award.

In addition to Drs. Cottler, Hodgins, Meile, Slutske and Winters, the NCRG SAB includes Tammy Chung, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh; Mark S. Gold, M.D., Donald Dizney Eminent Scholar, Distinguished Professor and Chair of psychology in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida; and Miriam Jorgensen, Ph.D., M.P.P., research director at the Native Nations Institute of the University of Arizona and research director for the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at Harvard University.

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Dr. Ken Winters Takes The Helm Of The NCRG’s Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Ken Winters Named NCRG Scientific Advisory Board Chairman

Today, the NCRG is excited toannouncethatKen Winters, Ph.D.,professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse at the University of Minnesota, was named the next chairman of the NCRG’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

Dr. Winters is a leading expert in the study of risky behaviors among youth, including gambling. His research interests include assessment and treatment of adolescent drug abuse and gambling; adolescent brain development and vulnerability to drug abuse; and assessment and treatment of adult problem gambling. He has published numerous research articles in these areas, and has received numerous research grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and various foundations. Dr. Winters was honored by the NCRG with the Scientific Achievement Award in 2005 for his work on gambling disorders.

Dr. Winters serves on the editorial boards of theJournal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse,Psychology of Addictive Behaviorsand theJournal of Substance Abuse Treatment. He was also the lead editor for two Treatment Improvement Protocol Series editions published by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA) that focused on adolescent drug abuse assessment and treatment. Dr. Winters is a consultant to many organizations, including the Hazelden Foundation, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Partnership at Drugfree.org, the World Health Organization and the Mentor Foundation (an international drug abuse prevention organization).

Dr. Winters replacesLinda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H.,associate dean for research and planning in the College of Public Health and Health Professions and Dean’s Professor and Chair for the department of epidemiology in the Colleges of Medicine and Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida, who will remain as a member of the SAB.

Theeight-member panelof leading, independent scientists plays a vital role by ensuring that the organization follows rigorous standards inawarding grants, monitoring the work of theNCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Researchand advising the NCRG on funding initiatives and educational activities.

Commenting on his new position, Dr. Winters said:

“I am honored to accept this expanded role on the NCRG’s SAB. On behalf of the entire board, we thank Dr. Cottler for her leadership and guidance for the past four years and we look forward to her continued contribution to the board.”

The NCRG also announced today that three new members were added to the SAB:

  • David Hodgins, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the department of psychology and institute node coordinator for the University of Calgary, Alberta Gaming Research Institute;
  • Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D., instructor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and principal at Optimal Development Coaching; and
  • Wendy Slutske, Ph.D., professor in the department of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Stay tuned for a blog post later this week about these new additions to the board.

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