27th Annual ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction
The premier conference showcasing innovative gambling research.
The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) is pleased to invite you to the 27th Annual ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, the preeminent science-based forum featuring the latest research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling.
This year's conference brings together treatment providers, public health professionals, researchers, responsible gambling professionals, industry leaders, regulators, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience for two days of cutting-edge science and practical discussion. Through keynote presentations, interactive panels, workshops, scientific sessions, poster presentations, and networking opportunities, attendees will explore the latest evidence shaping the future of gambling research and player protection.
Treatment Providers and Public Health Professionals will explore:
- Emerging approaches to prevention, early intervention and treatment
- Gambling, mental health, substance use, and co-occurring conditions
- The psychology and neuroscience underlying gambling risk and addiction
- Evidence-based approaches to translating research into clinical practice
- Lived experience, recovery pathways, and community-based responses
- Indigenous and Tribal approaches to healing, prevention, and community response
Responsible Gambling Professionals, Industry Leaders, and Regulators will examine:
- Artificial intelligence and data science for player protection
- Emerging gambling products, sports betting, prediction markets, and consumer protection
- Responsible gambling communications and player engagement
- Lottery marketing, social media, and evolving gambling environments
- Building meaningful partnerships between industry and researchers
- Evidence-based approaches to policy development and responsible gambling implementation
Researchers will discover new evidence on:
- Gambling motivations and behavioral decision-making
- Emerging adults and vulnerable populations
- Translational neuroscience and biological mechanisms of gambling risk
- Social media and evolving gambling products
- Sports betting, public policy, and consumer protection
- The latest scientific discoveries presented through oral presentations, lightning talks, and poster sessions
Beyond the educational program, attendees can earn up to 11 continuing education hours while connecting with colleagues from around the world through pre-conference workshops, networking events, the Luncheon, poster sessions, and interactive discussions designed to foster collaboration across research, treatment, industry, and public health. Whether your goal is to improve clinical care, inform policy, strengthen responsible gambling initiatives, or advance scientific discovery, the ICRG Conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from leading experts and help shape the future of gambling research and player protection.
View the agenda below, and please click on each session for more detailed information including speakers and learning objectives.
Agenda
Fees
Speakers
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Sponsors
Scholarships & More
2026 ICRG SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Howard J. Shaffer Scientific Achievement Award
Sally M. Gainsbury, PhD
Professor of Psychology and Director, Gambling Research and Policy Unit, University of Sydney
Dr. Sally Gainsbury is an internationally recognized leader in gambling research whose work has advanced understanding of online gambling, responsible gambling tools, self-exclusion, digital interventions, and gambling policy. Her research has helped demonstrate how technology can be used not only to identify gambling-related risk, but also to support prevention and informed decision-making.
Dr. Gainsbury is also Principal Investigator of an ICRG Center of Excellence examining how technology-based responsible gambling tools can be designed and communicated to increase voluntary engagement.
The Scientific Achievement Award was renamed in 2026 as the Howard J. Shaffer Scientific Achievement Award in recognition of Dr. Shaffer’s extraordinary contributions to gambling research and addiction science.
Education and Mentorship Award
Paulette J. O’Gilvie, PhD, MBA
Faculty Chair and Associate Professor of Human Services, American Baptist College
Dr. Paulette J. O’Gilvie is recognized for her leadership in gambling education, prevention, mentorship, and community engagement. Her work has expanded opportunities for undergraduate students to study gambling within behavioral health, public health, addiction, prevention, and responsible gambling.
Through curriculum development, research, conference participation, and professional mentorship, Dr. O’Gilvie has helped introduce students and communities that have historically been underrepresented in gambling studies to the field. Her scholarship also examines gambling-related harm, health equity, urban communities, faith-based engagement, and prevention.
ICRG CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
POSTERS
Explore new research on gambling and meet the researchers!
TREATMENT, RECOVERY, AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES
- Romantic Relationship Functioning in Gambling Disorder: Associations with Alcohol Use, Financial Harms, and Self-Efficacy
Matthew D. Andersland¹², Leonardo Martinez-Torres¹³, Meredith K. Ginley¹⁴, James P. Whelan¹²
¹Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research; ²Department of Psychology, University of Memphis; ³Department of Psychological Sciences and Counseling, Tennessee State University; ⁴Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University
- Beyond Abstinence: A Phenomenological Exploration of Identity and Long-Term Recovery from Gambling Disorder
Sophorn T. Choau, Zixuan Zhao
Department of Behavioral Health, La Sierra University
- Suicidal Ideation and Treatment Response in Gambling Disorder
Elizabeth Knight¹, Kelsey McAlister¹, Cynthia Grant², Jennifer Huberty¹
¹Fit Minded, Inc.; ²Birches Health
- Rapid Clinical Improvement in Virtual Treatment for Gambling Disorder: Findings From a National Real-World Cohort
Kelsey McAlister¹, Elizabeth Knight¹, Cynthia Grant², Jennifer Huberty¹
¹Fit Minded, Inc.; ²Birches Health
- When the Congregant Says “I Have a Financial Problem!”: Equipping Faith Leaders to Recognize and Respond to Gambling-Related Harm
Paulette J. O’Gilvie¹, Vena M. Schexnayder²
¹American Baptist College; ²ARPG Council
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING, IDENTITY, AND RISK
- The Black Masculinity Gambling Risk Scale (BMGRS): Developing a Culturally Responsive Measure of Gambling Risk
Demere Coker
Department of Counseling Education and Psychological Services, Bowie State University
- Self-Identification as a Professional Gambler and Its Relationship to Problem Gambling Risk
Katherine Hong¹, Maya Thulin², Raymond Wu¹, Luke Clark¹
¹Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; ²Addictions and Mental Health Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Responsible Gambling Perspectives Among At-Risk and Problem Gamblers
Sungho Jang¹, Dorothy Koompah¹, Meredith K. Ginley², James P. Whelan¹
¹Department of Psychology, University of Memphis; ²Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University
- What Does “Responsible Gambling” Mean? General Population Perspective, Awareness and Engagement of Responsible Gambling
Dorothy Koompah¹, Sungho Jang¹, Meredith K. Ginley², James P. Whelan¹
¹Department of Psychology, University of Memphis; ²Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University
RISK FACTORS AND CO-OCCURRING BEHAVIORS
- When the Fan Meets the Man: Masculine Norm Conformity and Sports Fan Identity as Predictors of Online Sports Betting Engagement Among Emerging Adult Men
Chance V. Dow¹, James P. Whelan¹²
¹Department of Psychology, University of Memphis; ²Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research
- Youth Problem Gambling: Leveraging Data for Prevention and Early Intervention
Serena M. King¹, Katharine Adamyk², Jasper Weinburd², Randy Stinchfield³, Bob Kuziej⁴, Kat Panas⁴
¹Department of Psychology, Hamline University; ²Department of Mathematics, Hamline University; ³Emeritus, University of Minnesota Medical School; ⁴Minnesota Student Survey
- Gambling Under the Influence of Cannabis: The Impact of Simultaneous Engagement Within Individuals Who Gamble Frequently
Abby McPhail¹, James P. Whelan¹, Meredith K. Ginley²
¹University of Memphis; ²East Tennessee State University
- Pathways of Co-occurring Problem Gambling, Addiction, and Mental Health Concerns Among Emerging Adults: An 8-Month Longitudinal Study
Maya C. Thulin¹, Jenna L. Vieira¹, Nassim Tabri², Hyoun S. (Andrew) Kim¹³
¹Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University; ²Department of Psychology, Carleton University; ³Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
EMERGING PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGY, AND GAMBLING MECHANICS
- The Prevalence and Correlates of Prediction Market Use in the United States
Timothy Callaghan¹, Jennifer Cornacchione Ross¹, Paul Shafer¹, Samhita Kalidindi¹, Aaron Holman²³, Christopher Louis¹, Matthew Motta¹
¹Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health; ²Health Co-Lab; ³Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- AI Gambler Personas: Testing Replication Fidelity Against Published Studies
Simo Dragicevic, Kasra Ghaharian
Symula.ai
- Maximization and Sensitivity to Win-Like Outcomes in Slot Machine Play
Annika Rose, Brianne McKinney, Michael Stark, Jacob H. Daar
Northern Michigan University
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Conference attendees are eligible to earn up to 11 continuing education (CE) hours through approved certifying organizations.
- 2 CE Hours: Pre-Conference Workshop, Treating Gambling Harms: Valuable Strategies for Engaging and Retaining Our Clients
- 9 CE Hours: Educational sessions held Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon
Approved Continuing Education Providers
American Psychological Association (APA): The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The ICRG maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals: This program has been approved by the ICRG, a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for continuing education credits. NAADAC Provider #100793. The ICRG is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): The ICRG has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 6474). Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The ICRG is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization (IPGGC): The ICRG is a Preferred Provider with the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization (IPGGC).
ATTENDANCE TRACKING & PARTICIPATION
After registration, please download the Event App using the QR code below or go to Eventleaf.com/Join. This app will allow you to self check-in/check-out of each session and submit questions to our speakers.
Conference staff will also be available to check you in and/or assist with use of the Event App.
Event App sponsored by DraftKings