14th Annual Responsible Gaming Education Week: “Know The Odds”

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and the American Gaming Association (AGA) are committed to public education opportunities regarding responsible gaming. Both the NCRG and the AGA are busy ramping up for the 14thannual Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), which is being held August 1-5. This year’s theme, “Know the Odds,” will build off last year’s successful effort to “take the mystery out of the slot machine” by focusing on educating casino employees and patrons about the odds of all the games available in a casino.

The NCRG is growing its resources to partner with organizations and foster innovative collaborations to help educate and inform the public about pathological and youth gambling. As in past years, the NCRG is working with the AGA to produce high-quality informational materials and activities for RGEW. The AGA brochure, “The House Advantage: A Guide to Understanding the Odds,” clearly explains the advantage the casino has in various games, debunks some commonly held myths and outlines each game’s mathematical probabilities and other factors behind winning and losing. Along with this brochure, we will be developing new materials, from posters to supplemental quizzes, to help stakeholders distribute and incorporate this information into existing education materials.

As you know, the NCRG strives to increase public education opportunities about responsible gaming, as well as partner with new organizations to collaborate on outreach efforts. This year, the NCRG is offering these materials at cost to select non-profit organizations and National Council on Problem Gambling state affiliates to help everyone know the odds of gambling activities.

These materials can be ordered through the AGA website,www.americangaming.org, by July 7 so feel free to take a look! Select non-profits can and NCPG state affiliates candownload the AGA member order formwith discounted pricing options. If you have any questions regarding RGEW, please contact Amy Martin, communications and outreach manager for the NCRG, atamartin@ncrg.orgor 202.552.2689. You can also follow us onFacebookandTwitterfor updates.

We welcome any comments or suggestions you have, so feel free to leave a comment below!

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16th Annual NRCG Conference on Gambling and Addiction

Sept. 27-29, 2015
Featuring one of the most diverse audiences of all gambling conferences, the 16th NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction met the varied needs and interests of attendees by offering the following:

A special track for gaming regulators and industry exploring the use of science to develop and evaluate responsible gaming programs and regulations designed to reduce gambling-related harms
Up to 15 continuing education hours accepted by the American Psychological Association, NAADAC, NASW, and other certifying agencies for healthcare providers
A pre-con workshop for clinicians led by one of the leading CBT trainers in the nation
A poster session providing researchers and students the opportunity to showcase their new research on gambling disorder
A pre-con workshop for researchers on working with the media

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17th Annual NRCG Conference on Gambling and Addiction

Sept 25-26, 2016
The goal of the conference was to bridge the gulf between research and practice by demonstrating how new studies can make treatment, screening, public health policy, regulations and responsible gaming more effective in addressing the needs of people who suffer from gambling disorder.

• Clinicians and public health professionals earned up to 13.5 continuing education hours approved by the leading national and state certification agencies as well as explore innovative approaches to assessment and treatment.
• Researchers showcased their new studies in the poster session and networked with other investigators focused on gambling disorder.
• Gaming industry professionals learned how to develop and evaluate evidence-based responsible gaming programs.
• Gaming regulators and public officials discussed the importance of using peer-reviewed research to inform gaming regulations.

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18th Annual NRCG Conference on Gambling and Addiction

Oct. 1-2, 2017
The goal of this conference ws to bridge the gulf between research and practice by demonstrating how new studies can help to increase the effectiveness of treatment, screening, public health policy, regulations and responsible gaming initiatives.

• Clinicians and public health professionals earned up to 13.75 continuing education hours approved by the leading national and state certification agencies as well as explored innovative approaches to assessment and treatment
• Researchers showcased their new studies in a poster session and networked with other investigators focused on gambling disorder
• Gaming industry professionals learned how to develop and evaluate evidence-based responsible gaming programs
• Gaming regulators and public officials discussed the importance of using peer-reviewed research to inform gaming regulations
• All stakeholders came together to ponder “The Politics of Responsible Gaming” in a town hall meeting

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19 Th Annual Ncrg Conference on Gambling and Addiction

Oct. 7-8, 2018
The goal of this conference was to bridge the gulf between research and practice by demonstrating how new studies and innovative programs can help to increase the effectiveness of treatment, screening, public health policy, regulations and responsible gaming initiatives.

• Clinicians and public health professionals earned up to 14 continuing education hours approved by the leading national and state certification agencies as well as explore innovative approaches to treatment
• Researchers showcased their new studies in the poster session and networked with other investigators focused on gambling disorder
• Gaming industry professionals learned how to develop and evaluate innovative and evidence based responsible gaming programs
• Gaming regulators and public officials discussed the importance of using peer-reviewed research to inform gaming regulations,
• All stakeholders had the opportunity to explore culturally diverse ways of promoting responsible gaming and programs to address gambling disorder

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15th Annual NRCG Conference on Gambling and Addiction

Sept. 28-30, 2014
For 15 years, it has been the NCRG’s goal to provide a unique forum for stakeholders around the world to learn, educate and engage in a dialogue centered on the latest science about gambling disorder and responsible gaming. Addiction has impacted the lives of millions of people around the world. Countless public health leaders, clinicians, community leaders, researchers, industry members and regulators have worked tirelessly to help the public understand more about gambling disorder so that we can provide effective prevention and treatment. We hope that the dialogue that happens at this conference will help reduce the stigma of addiction and mental illness.

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Deadline Fast Approaching: Letters Of Intent For Large Grants And Early Stage Investigator Grants

The July 1, 2011 deadline for the National Center for Responsible Gaming’s (NCRG) large and early stage investigator grants is right around the corner. The NCRG hasallocated more than $700,000to fund research that advances our understanding about gambling disorders in 2011, and the last opportunities to apply for this year’s funding are quickly approaching. Make sure you submit your letter of intent for these two funding opportunities soon!

Large Grants

The Large Grants program provides up to two years of support for discrete, specified, circumscribed research projects related to gambling disorders. Applicants may request up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for a period not to exceed 24 months. The NCRG expects to award two Large Grants in this funding cycle. To learn more about last year’s awardees, visit ourproject grants page.

To apply, download thegrant announcementandapplication form. Submit your letter of intent by July 1, 2011.

Early Stage Investigator Grants

The Early Stage Investigator Grants program is intended to help ensure that a pool of highly trained scientists is available to address the research needs of the field of gambling disorders. Eligible applicants are within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or within 10 years of completing medical residency. Applicants may request up to $65,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 24 months.

Applications for this award must propose a research plan that:

  1. Has intrinsic research importance in the area of prevention and treatment of gambling disorders, and
  2. Will serve as a suitable vehicle for learning the methodology, theories and concepts needed for a well-trained, independent researcher in the area of gambling research.

To apply, download thegrant announcementandapplication form. Submit your letter of intent by July 1, 2011. The NCRG expects to award one Early Stage Investigator Grant in 2011.

For more information on the application process, please visit theNCRG Research Centeror contact Christine Reilly, Senior Research Director, atcreilly@ncrg.org. You can also find examples of previously funded studies on ourFunded Project Grantspage.

Questions or comments? Leave them in the comments section below!

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Collegegambling.org Webinar Now Available Online

Collegegambling.org Main Page

On June 1, theNational Center for Responsible Gaming(NCRG) hosted its secondwebinarof 2011, which provided an overview of the organization’s new resource,CollegeGambling.org, as well as the latest research on college gambling and gambling problems among college students. Visit theNCRG websitefor an archived version of the presentation.

Christine Reilly, senior research director for the NCRG, moderated the webinar and kicked off the presentations by highlighting the need for a resource to address gambling problems among college students. She explained that approximately 75 percent of college students gamble annually and 6 percent have a gambling problem; however, only 22 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. have policies on college gambling.

To help fill this void, the NCRG partnered with the Division of Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and established the Task Force on College Gambling Policies. In 2009, the Task Force issued10 policy recommendationsthat provided schools with a roadmap for reducing gambling among students and enabling those who are struggling with addiction to participate more fully in college life. Reilly explained that the NCRG worked with the Task Force to developCollegeGambling.org, giving more resources to help current and prospective students, campus administrators, campus health professionals and parents address gambling and gambling-related harms on campus.

CollegeGambling.org

Matthew Martens, Ph.D., associate professor of Educational, School and Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri, Columbia, then provided an update on research he is conducting (through a grant from the NCRG) that examinespersonalized feedback interventions, a form of treatment designed to create dissonance regarding the negative behavior and encourage positive change in the recipient. “I want to measure feedback on situations where the student has difficulty refusing gambling and how to avoid those situations,’ stated Dr. Martens during the webinar. To learn more about his work on brief interventions, listen to the NCRG Insider interview.

The presentations concluded with a tour of CollegeGambling.org from Ryan Travia, M.Ed., director of Alcohol and Other Drug Services at Harvard University. Travia is also a member of both the Task Force on College Gambling Policies and the CollegeGambling.org advisory committee. During his talk, Travia navigated participants through each section of the site, giving detailed descriptions of the free resources for campus health professionals and students. Travia noted that “CollegeGambling.org is science-based and centers on research and campus polices that we studied.’

For more highlights of this webinar, you can also search the webinar live-tweet feed at #NCRGWebinar. Find out more about upcoming sessions in the 2011 NCRG Webinar Series, including the Aug. 24 webinar entitled “Adolescent Brain Development: Implications for Understanding Youth Gambling,” by visiting theUpcoming Webinarspage.

We have received great feedback about the NCRG Webinar Series and would like to hear from you! What topics would you like us to cover in future webinar sessions? Which researchers are you most wanting to hear? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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Fifth Annual NCRG Road Tour To Visit Boston, Mass.

Next month, the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) will embark on its fifth annual Road Tour. Each year, the NCRG Road Tour travels to a new city to share information about the latest research on gambling disorders and make key stakeholders aware of the science-based programs and resources the NCRG has to offer. This year, the NCRG Road Tour will be visiting Boston, Mass., from July 26 – 27, and is excited to be partnering with theMassachusetts Council on Compulsive Gamblingfor several of the events.

The Road Tour will kick off on Tuesday, July 26, with a workshop for treatment providers entitled, “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Problem Gambling,” led by Lisa Najavits, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Najavits will present information on her program ‘Seeking Safety,’ an evidence-based treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders, and her research on problem gambling in PTSD populations. This treatment provider workshop is a great opportunity for clinicians to earn continuing education hours and listen to a top-notch researcher’s results to help inform their own practice. The free workshop is co-sponsored by theMassachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Also on Tuesday, the NCRG and the Massachusetts Council will host a meeting with the Council’s College Outreach Program. Alan Feldman, member of the NCRG board of directors and senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Resorts International; Christine Reilly, senior research director for the NCRG; and Jim Wuelfing, CPP-R, NRPP, prevention director for the Council, will discuss the latest research on gambling among college students. We are very excited to learn more about the Council’s efforts to reach the college population and explain more about our new resourcewww.CollegeGambling.org.

On Wednesday, July 27, the NCRG is bringing researchers, legislators, government officials, industry members, responsible gaming partners and problem gambling coalitions together at a breakfast to learn more about the NCRG’s role in funding groundbreaking research and advancing public education about gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Alan Feldman and Christine Reilly will be leading this discussion.

The final event of the NCRG Road Tour will be a luncheon workshop during which research investigators in the Boston, Mass. area can learn more about the NCRG’s research funding opportunities. Christine Reilly will be joined by Dr. Najavits, and they will discuss the NCRG’s grant-review process, the key ingredients of a proposal competitive for funding by the NCRG and examples of previous NCRG-funded research.

While all of the NCRG Road Tour events are by invitation only, you can stay informed by visitingGambling Disorders 360°or by following the NCRG onFacebookandTwitter. For additional information about the Road Tour, please contact Amy Martin, communications and outreach manager for the NCRG, atamartin@ncrg.orgor 202.552.2689.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and questions, including suggestions for where the NCRG should visit in 2012, in the comments section below.

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NCRG’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair To Be Founding Chair Of University Of Florida’s Department Of Epidemiology

Linda B. Cottler

The NCRG congratulates Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., on her new appointment as the founding chair of the University of Florida’s department of epidemiology. Dr. Cottler is a long-time friend of the organization and serves in many roles, including the chair of the NCRG’s Scientific Advisory Board and a member of the advisory board for the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction.

Dr. Cottler is an internationally renowned epidemiologist and is well-known in the field of gambling disorders. As of the December 2010 publication of the“The 10 Most Influential Research Papers on Gambling Disorders”on Gambling Disorders 360˚, her and her colleagues’ 1998 analysis of the results from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study had been cited 150 times. This survey was among the first to provide substantial evidence for the high rate of co-occurring psychiatric disorders with pathological gambling (Cunningham-Williams et.al, 1998). Dr. Cottler also founded HealthStreet, an innovative program that connects under-served St. Louis residents with volunteers who connect them to medical care, social services, health care referrals and opportunities to participate in research. Shepresented her research findings and the program’s successat last year’s NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction.

The University of Florida established the department of epidemiology this month, and Dr. Cottler will begin her appointment July 1. She currently serves as a professor of epidemiology in the department of psychology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. At Washington University, St. Louis, she directed the Epidemiology and Prevention Research group, the Center for Community Based Research and the Master of Psychiatric Epidemiology program.

Please join the NCRG in congratulating Dr. Cottler on her new position by sending her your well-wishes in the comments section below! Dr. Cottler will also co-lead a session with Dr. Jon Grant at this year’s NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information, visit www.ncrg.org/conference.

References

Cunningham-Williams, R. M., Cottler, L. B., Compton, W. M., & Spitznagel, E. L. (1998). Taking chances: Problem gamblers and mental health disorders—results from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study.American Journal of Public Health,88(7), 1093-6.

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