UNLV is preparing to host its inaugural class of ESPN Research Fellowships.
The institution’s International Gaming Institute (IGI) has announced the recipients of the 2024 ESPN Research Fellowships. The group of scholars is tasked with researching the impact of RG messages used by media in the sports betting and gaming industry. Their work will be key in addressing and promoting healthy gambling practices.
“ESPN is proud to work with IGI to advance responsible gaming standards through this comprehensive research,” said VP of ESPN Corporate Citizenship Kevin Martinez. “These diverse research projects will help to inform how the industry can continue to respond to and improve upon responsible gaming practices in the sports entertainment ecosystem.”
Each of the five receipts of the fellowship will provide unique insights into the aspects of RG messaging in sports media. Dr. Hannah Borenstein, an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Chicago, will be investigating the integration of gambling into the mainstream broadcasting of track and field and marathon running.
Chance Dow, a master’s student at the University of Memphis’ Tennessee Institute of Gambling Education and Research, will be exploring the nuances of gendered gambling and RG messaging, particularly among college student populations.
Harvard Medical School Division on Addiction Research Scientist Dr. Eric R. Louderback will be analyzing video-based sports betting advertisements on social media.
Nebraska Assistant Professor of Sports Media and Communication Dr. Brian Petrotta will be working with Dr. Travis Bell to study gambling messaging during March Madness. Bell is a Professor of Digital and Sports Media at the University of South Florida.
“IGI is tremendously excited about these projects,” said IGI Executive Director Dr. Brett Abarbanel. “A key goal of this initiative is to support innovative and impactful research to better understand the rapidly changing global sports and betting environment. This research represents a broad range of perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”
The ESPN fellowship will last six months and conclude with an IGI webinar in early 2025.
