The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has named Dr. Kasra Ghaharian as the recipient of the first-ever Christine Reilly Grant Award.
Dr. Ghaharian is director of research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). His research focuses on machine learning, consumer protection, and payments modernization in the gambling industry, said the ICRG.
The award recognizes outstanding scientific excellence and research potential in gambling disorder and responsible gaming. It will be given annually to the highest-rated Seed Grant recipient, supporting research activities that explore the etiology, prevention, and treatment of gambling disorder, as well as responsible gambling strategies.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the 2024 Christine Reilly Grant Award,” Dr. Ghaharian said. “This funding will allow us to conduct novel research using open banking data from a large sample of UK consumers, giving us a more holistic view of individuals’ gambling activity across operators. It will also allow us to investigate the relationship between gambling involvement and financial vulnerability, an area that has been understudied, particularly using objective measures.
“We believe this work will be pivotal in understanding how bank transaction data can support harm prevention efforts. I sincerely thank the ICRG for their support in funding this important research.”
The Christine Reilly Grant Award was established to honor the unparalleled contributions of Christine (Chris) Reilly, who helped shape the work and progress of ICRG. From establishing the Scientific Advisory Board to spearheading the Gambling Disorder Conference, Reilly’s visionary work laid the foundation for excellence in research and education on gambling disorder, said the ICRG.
ICRG receives $500,000 in industry donations
This week, the ICRG also announced it had received donations totaling $500,000 from major industry stakeholders to help continue its “robust commitment to advancing research and initiatives in gambling disorder and responsible gambling.”
Specifically, the center received $300,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians during the 25th ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, and another $200,000 from the proceeds of the 25th Annual AGEM & AGA Golf Classic hosted by JCM Global was presented at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
