9th Annual NCRG Conference To Explore New Ground In Treatment, Responsible Gaming And Public Policy
Leading Researchers to Present Latest Findings; Conference to Coincide With Global Gaming Expo
Apr 16, 2008
WASHINGTON– The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) today announced its 9thAnnual Conference on Gambling and Addiction will examine how the latest research may transform the way gambling disorders are addressed. The event, to be held Nov.16-18 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center, brings together industry professionals, regulators, health care providers, policy-makers and renowned researchers to discuss how new research can advance diagnostic, treatment and prevention applications.
The theme of the conference –The Changing Landscape of Treatment, Responsible Gaming and Public Policy– reflects the current scientific and societal trends that are influencing gambling research and responsible gaming initiatives. The conference’s opening roundtable will feature a panel discussion on whether new research will lead to a revised clinical definition for pathological gambling in the American Psychiatric Association’sDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which could have significant ramifications for a wide array of stakeholders.
“NCRG’s support of peer-reviewed, independent research about gambling disorders is making an impact at a critical time. We are facing a constantly changing landscape in which advancing technology, globalization and other trends are influencing how we address gambling-related harms,” said Phil Satre, chairman of the NCRG and former chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. “This conference not only will give attendees the opportunity to catch up on the latest research, but will provide a forum for discussing the implications of new scientific findings.”
Co-sponsored by the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at the Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, the conference program will provide attendees the opportunity to hear from leading experts from academia, government, the health care sector and the gaming industry about evolving research areas and how they can be translated into real-world applications. Plenary topics will include a look at how to develop effective intervention and responsible gaming strategies for Asian populations, gambling and the Internet, how to talk to children about gambling addiction and other risky behaviors, and how close the research field is to establishing pathological gambling treatment standards.
Breakout sessions at this year’s conference will examine government support for addressing gambling disorders, particularly how state and federal health agencies differ in their approaches, the effectiveness of self-exclusion programs and how people recover from gambling disorders.
Additional sessions will feature examples of practical applications of new research findings, the latest drug treatments for alcohol and gambling disorders, the use of new technology in assessment and counseling, and more.
The NCRG conference will once again coincide with Global Gaming Expo (G2E), which will be held Nov.18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. G2E is the gaming industry’s largest international trade show and conference. The final day of NCRG conference sessions will take place at the convention center as part of G2E’s corporate social responsibility conference track.
NCRG-sponsored sessions at G2E will explore a broad mix of topics including responsible gaming in Native American casinos, how human resources and employee assistance programs address problem gambling in the workplace, and how gambling impacts America’s cultural fabric. The sessions will be open to all G2E and NCRG conference attendees.
“With its focus on the upcoming edition of theDSM, this year’s NCRG conference will be a particularly exciting one not only for the research community but for anyone who has a stake in the issue of gambling disorders,” said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders. “The possibility of a new clinical definition for pathological gambling could have major implications for the way we identify and treat gambling disorders, and how responsible gaming programs are developed. This conference provides the opportunity for all of those who have a stake in this issue to debate these developments.”
As part of the 2008 conference, the NCRG also will present its annual Scientific Achievement Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the study of gambling-related disorders. The NCRG will distribute an international request for nominations for these awards in the near future.
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The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG’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.
