Key Research Findings

Support from the NCRG has led to a number of significant advancements in the field of research on gambling disorders. NCRG grants have funded research leading to:

• The first reliable statistics of how many people have the disorder:
  • Harvard’s estimate of approximately 1 percent of the adult population has been verified by independent studies and the National Academy of Sciences
• Promising treatments for gambling disorders
• More evidence for the role of genetics in the development of the disorder
• A greater understanding of youth gambling
• New instruments for accurately measuring, screening and diagnosing pathological gambling
• The first national survey of gambling on college campuses
• A more sophisticated understanding of the brain’s reward system
• A new understanding of addiction as a syndrome
• A better understanding of the health risks of casino employees
• A model for evaluating self-exclusion and treatment programs
• A framework for understanding gambling as a public health issue

For additional information on these findings, visit the Find a Study section of our Research Library or contact Amy Kugler at akugler@ncrg.org or 202-552-2689.