The timeline below offers a look at some of the NCRG's major accomplishments since it was founded in 1996.
At-A-Glance Timeline
1996: Members of the gaming industry establish the NCRG, the first organization devoted exclusively to funding independent peer-reviewed research on pathological and youth gambling and educating the public about problem gambling.
1997: The NCRG awards its first grant to Howard Shaffer, Ph.D., at Harvard University, whose resulting meta-analysis provides the first reliable statistic on the rate of gambling disorders in the U.S. and Canada. The report indicates between 1.14 and 1.60 percent of the adult population are pathological gamblers, a figure still widely published today.
1998: Representatives from the NCRG testify at hearings conducted by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), and 10 investigators working on NCRG-funded research projects are invited to present their findings to a National Research Council panel formed by the NGISC. The testimony leads the NGISC to note in its final report that “perhaps surprising to some, the largest source of funding for research on problem and pathological gambling is the commercial casino industry.”
1999: The NCRG holds its first annual conference on gambling and addiction in Las Vegas. Today, the conference brings together leading experts from around the globe to discuss the latest advancements in addictions research surrounding problem gambling with clinicians, industry leaders, policy officials and treatment providers.
JCM American Corporation and the American Gaming Association co-sponsor the inaugural JCM-AGA Golf Classic benefiting the NCRG. Since 1999, the tournament has raised nearly half a million dollars for the organization.
2000: The NCRG shifts evaluation and funding of gambling research grants to the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School by awarding a $2.4 million contract to establish the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders.
2001: Responsible Gaming Quarterly, a joint publication of the NCRG and the American Gaming Association, debuts. The publication highlights initiatives throughout the industry, government, academia and the treatment community to address disordered gambling.
2002: The NCRG launches the annual “Scientific Achievement Awards” program to formally honor those individuals who have made exceptional scientific contributions to the field of gambling research. The late Robert Custer, M.D., and Nancy Petry, Ph.D., are honored with the Career Achievement and Young Investigator Awards, respectively, at the inaugural ceremony.
2003: The Fourth Annual NCRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction is expanded to offer a separate track providing a practical agenda for a government and industry audience in addition to its ongoing program for the academic and treatment community.
2004: Drs. Howard Shaffer, Alex Blaszcynski and Robert Ladouceur publish “A Science-Based Framework for Responsible Gaming: The Reno Model,” in the Journal of Gambling Studies. This NCRG-funded paper outlines a strategic framework to help communities minimize the negative impacts of gambling addiction.
2005: As part of its expanded public education mission, the NCRG officially becomes the American Gaming Association’s affiliated charity. While remaining committed to funding scientific research in the field of pathological gaming, the new structure can expand the positive impact of this vital research within casino communities nationwide.
2006: The Institute begins to translate its core curriculum on gambling disorders and responsible gaming into an interactive science-based training program, customizable for every level of casino employee, called EMERGE – Executive, Management & Employee Responsible Gaming Education.
The NCRG moves its annual conference to coincide with Global Gaming Expo (G2E) to heighten interaction between industry leaders and clinicians and generate a more lively exchange of ideas within the field of gambling research.
2007: The NCRG receives more than $7.6 million in new commitments from the casino gaming industry, equipment manufacturers, vendors and others to continue funding groundbreaking research into gambling disorders. This brings total funds committed – since NCRG’s founding in 1996 – to more than $22 million.