In this review of NCRG, you will encounter thorough information regarding the organization’s history and leadership, its vision, mission, and main activities. Furthermore, you will also read about the statistics of NCRG, who it is funded by and what educational programs it offers. So, let us go ahead and start going through the differentessential characteristics of the organization.
What is the National Center for Responsible Gaming?
The National Center for Responsible Gaming is an American nonprofit group that funds scientific research conducted on gambling addiction. It is a wing of the American Gaming Association. The mission of NCRG is to help people who suffer from problem gambling that has manifested into a full mental disorder. It aims to improve the prevention, diagnostic, intervention, and treatment strategies related to this dreadful condition. In the table down below, we have outlined the essential info regarding the organization, including its address and contact info:
Most readers probably know this organization as the National Center for Responsible Gaming, however as of 2020, it changed its name to International Center for Responsible Gaming. This was a necessary change for the organization, as its influence has been largely globalized in the last few years. Their mission is to help countless people all around the globe tackle this condition through raising awareness about the possible harmful effects and conducting different educational programs on the topic. Most US online casinos also support this cause by partnering with different responsible gambling organizations.
History and Leadership of ICRG
The International Center for Responsible Gaming was found all the way back in 1996 as a charitable organization. Prior to its foundation, the field of gambling research was relatively underdeveloped and lacked the appropriate number of acclaimed studies on gambling disorders. That all changed when ICRG emerged, as it was committed to reversing this trend from the very beginning. Throughout the years, the result of their hard work has been over 400 peer-reviewed articles on gambling addiction published in acclaimed scientific journals. Most of what we currently know about gambling has been discovered from 1999 through 2003, which is due to the funding from ICRG and other sources.
The organization is ruled by a board of directors, responsible for the final decisions that need to be taken. The chairman of the board is Alan M. Feldman, and the president is Phil State. Apart from them, ICRG’s scientific work is also overseen by the Scientific Advisory Board. This board consists of independent scientists who are experts in the fields of addiction and related disorders.
What Does NCRG Do?
The International Center for Responsible Gaming is a nonprofit organization. It does not aim to generate profit for its owners and is rather established for a social benefit. It provides the public with different resources promoting various ideas that might help tackle problem online gambling in the US. Some of the resources include treatment providers, presentations, speeches, and news on responsible gambling. Down below, we have listed some of the objectives of NCRG:
- Funds peer-reviewed research on the topic of gambling disorders
- Raises public awareness on the topic
- Organizes educational programs
In 2000, the National Center for Responsible Gaming founded the Institute for Research on Pathological Gaming and Related Disorders (IRPGRD). Since its establishment, over $25 million has been raised by the public in help of this cause. From 2008, the IRPGRD was dependent on funding from casinos through NCRG. This led to multiple critiques regarding the independence of the research and findings. However, it was concluded that no such interference was present.
The ICRG Research Center
The field of research on gambling disorders is quite young compared to research on various mental disorders. Thanks to the funding provided by NCRG, a large body of research has come together over the last 20+ years. The National Center for Responsible Gaming statistics are the very first reliable source on how many people suffer from gambling disorders. ICRG has also improved instruments for measuring, screening and diagnosing problem gambling.
Furthermore, the research funded by NCRG has brought in more evidence for the role of genetics in the development of excess gambling. It has also created a more sophisticated understanding of the brain’s reward system. There has been evidence that lab animals can be used for studies in the field of gambling addiction. Finally, the organization is responsible for creating a framework for understanding excess gambling as a public health issue and preventing the development of more gambling addiction horror stories.
Education Programs Sponsored by ICRG
ICRG is the sponsor for numerous educational programs and webinars, aiming to raise awareness on topics connected to gambling disorders and responsible gaming. One such program is CollegeGambling.org, which main objective is to provide helpful information regarding the risks of gambling to university students, staff and parents. Another initiative they host is the ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction. Attendance is free of charge, and you can educate yourself on various topics related to problem gambling.
NCRG Funding
The International Center for Responsible Gaming has raised over $40 million through casino funding, different sponsors, such as organizations, equipment manufacturers, vendors and individuals. ICRG keeps a portion of the funds for education and different initiatives, whilst most of the money is directed towards research directed by the Independent Scientific Advisory Board and different peer-reviewed panels. The board then determines funding priorities and grants applications submitted back to ICRG, where independent peer review panels review the proposals.
FAQ
At the end of our review, we will take the time to answer some commonly asked questions regarding the National Center for Responsible Gaming and its main activities and objectives. We hope you will find the info we have provided helpful.