Twinning: Genetic And Environmental Influences On Gambling Habits In Minnesota Twins

Although adolescents are particularly prone to environmental influences as they come into young adult age, few studies have looked at the effect that genetics versus environment has on gambling behaviors. Serena King, PhD, a 2006 New Investigator grantee of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, built upon her prior work looking at personality, gender, and family history in the prediction of college gambling, with this 2017 longitudinal twin study.

What is the aim of this review?

The aim of this study by King et al. (2017) is to examine genetic and environmental influences on gambling behaviors contributing to stability and change from adolescents to young adults aged 18-25. It was hypothesized that genetic factors become increasingly important from 18-25, and that genetic and environmental effect on gambling behaviors would be the same for women and men.

What did the Researchers do?

Researchers used the longitudinal, population-based Minnesota twin study to look at the effect of both genetics and environment on gambling behaviors in 18-25-year olds. Twin pairs were ascertained by birth records from 1978-1982 and eligibility was determined by proximity to the study and absence of physical or intellectual disability. The sample contained MZ (identical) twins (male: 252, female:233) and DZ (non-identical) twins (male: 252, female: 147) with an acceptance rate of 84% and follow up rate around 90%. Participating twins completed a questionnaire at both ages 18 and 25, which was used the South Oaks Gambling Screen (Lesieur and Blume, 1987) and additional questions pertaining to the amount of money spent on gambling. The researchers were then able to calculate the correlations between the twin pairs relative to genetics, shared environment, and non-shared environment.

Why is this important?

Twin studies are important to research, because they allow researchers to better determine whether a certain disorder is influenced more by genetics or by the environment. Gambling is known to run in families (Black et al. 2014), but the extent of genetic influence is relatively unknown, especially in young adults who are particularly prone to environmental influences. Twin studies have been used to assess nature versus nurture in a wide variety of addictions, but is relatively nonexistent in gambling research. An insight published inNature Reviews Genetics, highlights that “Twin and family studies provide strong evidence that addictions involve the interplay of genetic and environmental factors… (this) is crucial for the development of more effective interventions” (Li and Burmesiter, 2009). This study offers a novel longitudinal study looking at adolescent gamblers and the shifts in influence becoming young adults, and affords an opportunity to influence future interventions.

What did they find?

Researchers concluded that genetic factors increase in influence from 18-25, from 21% at age 18 to 57% at age 25 and this was consistent with both males and females. They also found that shared environmental influences between twin pairs are influential at age 18, but decreases from 18-25, 55% at age 18 and 10% at age 25. Finally, they concluded that the presence of disordered gambling is almost entirely genetic, while non-problem gambling is influenced almost entirely by shared and non-shared environmental influences.

Limitations

The study population was 98% Caucasian, which negatively affect generalizability to other populations. Additionally, this only looked at two time-points over a 7-year range and, therefore, any changes that occurred in between these two set points would likely be missed.

References

King, S. M., Keyes, M., Winters, K. C., Mcgue, M., & Iacono, W. G. (2017). Genetic and environmental origins of gambling behaviors from ages 18 to 25: A longitudinal twin family study.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors,31(3), 367-374. doi:10.1037/adb0000266

Li, M. D., & Burmeister, M. (2009). New insights into the genetics of addiction.Nature Reviews. Genetics,10(4), 225–231. http://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2536

Susser, E., Schwartz, S., Morabia, A., & Bromet, E. J. (2006). Twin Studies of Heritability.Psychiatric Epidemiology,375-388. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195101812.003.31

Lesieur, H. R., & Blume, S. B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): A new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers.American Journal of Psychiatry,144(9), 1184–8

Black, D. W., Coryell, W. H., Crowe, R. R., McCormick, B., Shaw, M. C., & Allen, J. (2014). A Direct, Controlled, Blind Family Study of DSM-IV Pathological Gambling.The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,75(3), 215–221. http://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.13m08566

NCRG staffIssues & Insightscollege gamblingdisordered gamblinggeneticsresearch

/by

19th Annual Agem/aga Golf Classic Presented By Jcm Global Breaks Fundraising Records, Brings In $155,000 For NCRG

The gaming industry broke all previous fundraising records at the 19th annual AGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global, bringing in an astounding $155,000. Proceeds directly benefit research conducted by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG). To date, the Golf Classic has raised more than $1.7 million to advance the NCRG’s important research.

“We are thrilled that the golf classic broke all records this year. The money will help NCRG find effective treatment for gambling disorder,” said NCRG executive director Russell Sanna.

“We are honored and grateful to have the opportunity to produce the AGEM/AGA Golf Classic. The NCRG, its staff, and its mission play a vital role in the gaming industry, and we are humbled to play a small role in helping them achieve success. We are thankful to the many players and sponsors from across the industry who joined us in raising the bar and breaking all previous fundraising records for this event,” said JCM Vice President Tom Nieman.

A total of 144 players joined 21 sponsors in supporting the Golf Classic. Premier sponsors included the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the American Gaming Association (AGA), Crane Payment Innovations (CPI), Global Gaming Expo (G2E), GGB Magazine, JCM Global, Konami, and Scientific Games.

Other sponsors included Ainsworth Game Technology, Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, DiTRONICS, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), HIKAM America, KIC Team, National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Patriot Gaming & Electronics, Sands Las Vegas, The US Playing Card Company, Topgolf, and Target Golf Association.

The NCRG extends its thanks to the Golf Classic sponsors for their extraordinary generosity and support of the NCRG programs.

NCRG staffResponsible Gaminggamblinggaminggolfscience

/by

NCRG Announces The 18th NCRG Conference On Gambling And Addiction

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is pleased to invite you to the 18th NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the preeminent annual forum on gambling disorder and responsible gaming. Healthcare providers, researchers, public health professionals, gaming regulators and gaming industry professionals will convene in Las Vegas to learn about the latest research on gambling disorder and new responsible gaming strategies while exchanging ideas with attendees from all over the world.

Featuring one of the most diverse audiences of all gambling conferences, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction strives to meet the varied needs and interests of all attendees by offering the following:

  • Talks by the leading innovators in the field of addiction and gambling disorder
  • Provocative debates about the new diagnostic code for gambling disorder
  • A special track designed to help regulators and the gaming industry develop safe and effective responsible gaming programs and regulations
  • Up to 13.75 continuing education hours approved by NAADAC, APA, NBCC and other certifying agencies for healthcare providers
  • A pre-conference workshop on screening, diagnosis and measuring treatment outcomes
  • A poster session providing researchers and students the opportunity to showcase their new research on gambling disorder

Visitwww.ncrg.org/conferencefor program details and online registration link.

Once again, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction boasts the highest quality programming relevant to all stakeholders in the gambling field. We hope you can join us in Oct.!

NCRG staffConference on Gambling and AddictionConference on Gambling and Addictiongamblinglas vegas

/by

NCRG Welcomes New Program Officer

Shayna Adams has joined the NCRG staff as program officer. She will be responsible for assisting with the grants program, social media and NCRG educational programs. Shayna served as a research analyst for the Framingham Heart Study. She received the MPH degree at Boston University School of Public Health with specialization in epidemiology. Shayna is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany where she majored in human biology.

Departing program officer Nathan Smith has been accepted into a PhD program at the University of Florida. We thank Nathan for his outstanding contributions to the NCRG and wish him well in his new endeavors.

NCRG staffICRG Newsepidemiologypublic health

/by

NCRG Awarded $300,000 For Research On Subpopulations In New Mexico

The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico, a collaboration of many of the state’s Native American owned casinos, has awarded NCRG a grant of $300,000 in support of research on the subpopulations of New Mexico, including racial or ethnic subgroups such as Native Americans or Hispanics/Latinos, age-based subgroups such as older adults or youth, and/or highly targeted subgroups such as Native American young adults living in Albuquerque.

The NCRG is accepting applications for research projects onJuly 17, 2017. Applicants may request up to $127,000 per year for two years in direct costs. Applicants are welcome to propose using these funds to add a gambling component to existing studies focused on health issues for any of the New Mexico subpopulations identified above. Applications related to youth should include questions on gambling participation by game type and participation in video gaming.

Download the detailed announcement atwww.ncrg.org/research-center.

NCRG staffResearch Updatenew mexicoresearchresponsible gaming

/by

NCRG Joins Supporters Of National Screening Day, March 14, 2017

Gambling Disorder Screening Day (Screening Day) is a one-day event held annually on the second Tuesday of March during Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Established in 2014 by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, Screening Day has included supporters and screeners from Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts and New England, the United States, and around the world. Screening Day has helped identify individuals in those regions who might have Gambling Disorder and should seek further assessment.

Although Gambling Disorder is a serious mental health disorder the can lead to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms, many cases go undetected, due to limited assessment for this problem. Screening Day addresses the imperative to detect gambling-related problems as early as possible, and the Division on Addiction encourages all organizations and providers to participate in this annual event.

The NCRG participates in Screening Day by distributing for free the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) in magnet form to treatment providers and others interested in conducting screening. The three-question BBGS was developed by the Division on Addiction with support from the NCRG. Contact Ariana Fox at NCRG to place your order (afox@ncrg.org; 978-338-6610).

Organizations and individuals interested in hosting a screening event on Screening Day should visit the Division’s Screening Day Toolkit (http://www.divisiononaddiction.org/gambling-disorder-screening-day-2017-toolkit/), which contains a variety of free online tools and resources, including a printable and customizable Screening Day Flyer, BBGS e-Screener (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) and a one-page article, What Is Gambling Disorder? The Division encourages organizations and individuals to share these tools and resources to educate staff and patients.

To host Screening Day on March 14, 2017, emailinfo@divisiononaddiction.org.

NCRG staffResponsible Gaming

/by

NCRG Awards Center Of Excellence Grant, Seed Grants

The NCRG recently awarded an NCRG Center of Excellence in Gambling Research and four Seed Grants. The center grant of $355,001 was awarded toDr. Wendy Slutskeat theUniversity of Missouri, Columbia. Dr. Slutske’s project seeks to fill the void of research on community-based studies of gambling disorder. Because so few disordered gamblers seek treatment, treatment populations cannot be considered representative of all disordered gamblers; hence, the need for broad community-based studies to answer questions about the origins and trajectory of gambling disorder.

Focusing on four unique datasets from Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and a US sample of reservation-dwelling Native Americans, Slutske’s team will pursue the following questions: (1) is living in a disadvantaged neighborhood a (potentially malleable) environmental cause of disordered gambling (DG), and if so, why? (2) where among the ~20,000 genes in the human genome are the variants associated with the risk for DG, and do these overlap with the genetic variants associated with the risk for other conditions such as alcohol use disorder?, (3) are there certain environments in which the genetic risk for DG is more likely to be expressed?, (4) when in the life course is DG more or less likely to first emerge?, and (5) are the causes of DG similar across the lifespan?

The NCRG also recently awarded four Seed Grants:

Seed Grant:“Gambling and Traumatic Stress: Analyses in Veteran and Community Samples”

Principal Investigator: Joshua B. Grubbs, PhD, Bowling Green State University

Awarded $34,500

Aim: Deepen the knowledge of the co-occurrence of gambling disorder and post-traumatic stress, by specifically examining the dispositional, motivational, and cognitive aspects of the known relationships between the two domains. Using two samples of veterans in a residential treatment program and an online, community sample of gambling adults, the project seeks to examine how symptoms of post-traumatic stress may be related to a tendency toward negative emotion (i.e., trait neuroticism), gambling-related cognitions (i.e., positive expectancies about gambling), and motivation to use gambling to cope with or escape from negative emotion.

Seed Grant:“The Effectsof Sensory Reward Cues on Decision Making under Risk in Healthy Volunteers and Problem Gamblers”

Principal Investigator: Mariya Cherkasova, PhD, University of British Columbia

Awarded $34,500

Aim: Understand the effects that sensory reward cues have on risky decision making in both healthy volunteers and disordered gamblers through a laboratory tasks; for example, measuring the impact of cues using eye tracking.

Seed Grant:“At‐risk Gambling in Credit Counseling: Prevalence and Feasibility of Brief Intervention

Principal Investigator: Paul Sacco, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Awarded $34,500

Aims: (1) To pilot screening for problem gambling in a sample of adults who seek services from a national consumer credit counseling organization; (2) To compare prevalence of at-risk gambling in consumer credit counseling users to national estimates; and (3) To evaluate the perceived acceptability and feasibility of gambling screening from the perspective of credit counselors.

Seed Grant:“The Role of Recovery Capital and Gender Differences in Recovery from Gambling Disorder – A Mixed Methods Design”

Principal Investigator: Belle Gavriel-Fried, PhD, Tel Aviv University

Awarded $34,500

Aims: (1) Examine the applicability of the concept of Recovery Capital to recovery from gambling addiction; and (2) probe gender differences in relation to their recovery and recovery capital. One-hundred and forty individuals who terminated treatment of gambling disorders in the previous 1-5 years will be asked to complete questionnaires including the gambling follow-up scale, the DSM-5 GD, the Assessment of Recovery Capital, and 3 open-ended questions.

NCRG staffICRG Newsaddiction research grantsgambling researchgrantsUniversity of Missouri

/by

Nearly $2 Million Committed To NCRG For Research And Education

The NCRG is pleased to announce that nearly $2 million was pledged to research and education on gambling disorder in 2016. Several major casino operators pledged $1.155 million to support the organization’s mission of funding innovative research and education about gambling disorder and responsible gaming. An additional $610,000 was raised through annual contributions and conference sponsorships. These commitments put the NCRG over the $27 million mark in fundraising since its establishment in 1996. Support from the gaming industry continues to help fuel groundbreaking research in this field, and the NCRG counts on these commitments to increase our understanding of gambling disorders and responsible gaming.

The companies that renewed multi-year funding pledges during this campaign include:

• Las Vegas Sands Corp. ($900,000 over three years)

• Penn National Gaming ($180,000 over three years)

• Pinnacle Entertainment ($75,000 over three years)

An additional $610,000 was raised through payments on past pledges, single year contributions and conference sponsorships from the following companies:

• MGM Resorts International ($312,000)

• Boyd Gaming Corporation ($80,000)

• Wynn Resorts ($60,000)

• Rush Street Gaming ($50,000)

• Isle of Capri Casinos ($54,000)

• IGT ($15,000)

• Potawatomi Hotel & Casino ($10,000)

• Betsson Group ($8,000)

• Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ($5,000)

• William Hill US ($5,000)

• Seneca Gaming Corporation ($5,000)

• GameCo ($3,000)

• BMM Testlabs ($3,000)

The NCRG continues to make a significant impact by increasing understanding of gambling disorder and responsible gaming through high-quality research and science-based resources. As of December 31st, 2016, NCRG-funded research has produced more than 332 articles in top-tier peer-reviewed publications, leading to a number of significant advancements in the field’s knowledge of gambling disorder prevalence, promising treatment strategies and youth gambling.

The NCRG has also developed peerless educational trainings–including the regional clinician workshops and webinars–and publications that are designed to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. The NCRG will continue to expand its public education offerings through new videos, publications and science-based resources, and explore new opportunities to learn about gambling disorder and treatment.

NCRG staffICRG Newsfundraisinggamblingresearchresponsible gamingsponsorships

/by

Save The Date For Mini-conference In New Mexico!

The NCRG is pleased to announce that it will cosponsor with Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, NM, two days of treatment provider workers on March 23-24, 2017. The topics and speakers for “Evidence-based Topics on Gambling and Addiction” include:

Dr. Bruce Liese
  • Bruce Liese, PhD,Manualized CBT Group for Diverse Addictive Behaviors
  • Jon Grant, MD, JD, MPH,Gambling Disorder: Similarities and Differences with Substance Use Disorders
  • Nathan Smith,But Is It Working? How to Measure the Effectiveness of Responsible Gaming Programs and Policies
  • Lisa Najavits, PhD,Seeking Safety: A Strategy for Addressing Trauma andAddiction

Clinicians can earn up to 7.5 continuing education hours approved by NBCC and NAADAC. There is no cost for this program that will be held at the Sandia Resort and Casino.

Learning Objectives

Seeking Safety: A Strategy for Addressing Trauma and Addiction

  • Increase understanding of trauma and/or gambling disorder
  • Apply Seeking Safety with clients with gambling disorder
  • Obtain assessment and treatment resources

Manualized CBT Group for Diverse Addictive Behaviors

  • Conceptualize diverse addictive behaviors according to a cognitive-behavioral perspective
  • Describe structure and essential components of a CBTAG session
  • Design and implement a CBTAG in own organization serving a group with diverse addictive behaviors

Gambling Disorder: Similarities and Differences with Substance Abuse Disorders

  • Conceptualize ways in which gambling disorder shares characteristics of a substance use disorder
  • Conceptualize ways in which gambling disorder differs from substance abuse disorder
  • Explain the clinical significance of these similarities and differences

But Is It Working? How to Measure the Effectiveness of Responsible Gaming Programs and Policies

  • Describe the current research base for responsible gaming practices
  • Identify one responsible gaming program that has been shown to be safe and effective

NCRG staffContinuing Education OpportunitiesaddictionCEConferencecontinuing education creditsgambling

/by

NCRG Conference — The Gambling Conference With The Most Continuing Education Certifications

Connecting healthcare providers with the most up-to-date research is essential to quality care. TheNCRG Conference on Gambling and Addictionis one of the vehicles the NCRG uses to help counselors, psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses and public health professionals learn about the latest research on gambling disorders. In fact, the NCRG conference offers the best educational experience for healthcare providers — as evidenced by the many approvals we have received for the continuing education hours offered by the conference. At this writing, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, scheduled for Sept. 25-26, 2016, in Las Vegas, is approved to provide 13.5 continuing education hours by more health care organizations than any other gambling conference. First, we have the institutions that have granted approval of all NCRG educational programs:

  • The NCRG is approved by theAmerican Psychological Associationto sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The National Center for Responsible Gaming maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • The NCRG is approved to provide continuing education byNAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals(provider #100793).
  • The NCRG is anNBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider(ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP is solely responsible for all aspects of the program (#6474).

In addition, the NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction has received single program approval from the following:

We still have some outstanding applications at even more certifying agencies so please check atwww.ncrg.org/conferenceor email Christine Reilly (creilly@ncg.org) for updates or suggestions of other organizations.

We hope you can join us in Las Vegas on Sept. 25-26, 2016!

NCRG staffConference on Gambling and AddictionConference on Gambling and Addictioncontinuing educationgambling addictionhealthcareresearch

/by