
National RG body launches effort to measure betting’s effect on public health
William Hill, GVC, AGA and MGM among the top donors of the fund which will accept first grants next year


The National Center for Responsible Gambling (NCRG) has launched a fund to support research into how legalized betting can impact public health.
The American Gaming Association (AGA), MGM, William Hill, GVC, NASCAR, IGT and Hard Rock International are among the leading donors of the fund, which is aimed at researchers at top-tier institutions.
The AGA said the fund would help equip operators, regulators and policymakers with science-based evidence to assess and design gaming provisions.
NCRG chairman Alan Feldman said: “This effort is bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders who are committed to ensuring that as legal sports betting options grow, the field is given the care and study consumers deserve to support responsible, healthy gaming practices.
“These generous contributions will allow the NCRG to conduct research independently and with integrity,” Feldman said.
Senior research director for the center Christine Reilly said: “It is important to support seminal scientific research in an emerging and rapidly expanding segment of the American gaming industry.”
The NCRG will accept the first grant applications in spring 2020.