Resources

Research on the causes, consequences and treatment of problem gambling is well documented and on-going. 


The resources listed below are just a few of places where you can access information, research and treatment options for working with individuals and family members who are struggling with the issue of problem gambling.

Articles

Picture of Newsletter

An Introduction to
Problem Gambling for
Behavioral Health
Service Providers
Lottery tickets, bingo games, blackjack at a casino, the Friday night poker game, the office sports pool, gambling Web sites, horse and dog racing, animal fights, and slot machines—there are now more opportunities to gamble than ever before. More than 75 percent of Americans ages 18 and older have gambled at least once, but for some this can be a problem. About 10 percent of people with a gambling problem seek treatment for the problem. SAMHSA’s Advisory Gambling Problems: An Introduction for Behavioral Health Services Providers summarizes what is known about gambling problems and their prevalence, and the connections between gambling issues and behavioral health conditions like substance use disorders and suicide risk. The publication is designed to educate providers so that gambling disorders can more easily be identified.

Journals

International Gambling Studies

International Gambling Studies is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal in gambling studies. Launched by a team of international experts with a commitment to the highest scholarly standards, International Gambling Studies adopts a transnational and comparative approach to the challenges posed by the global expansion of gambling in the 21st century.

Journal of Gambling Studies

The Journal of Gambling Studies is an interdisciplinary forum for research and discussion of the many and varied aspects of gambling behavior, both controlled and pathological. Coverage extends to the wide range of attendant and resultant problems, including alcoholism, suicide, crime, and a number of other mental health concerns. Articles published in this journal span a cross-section of disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, sociology, political science, criminology, and social work.

Institutes & Research Centers

Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gambling

The Institute for the Study of Gambling & Commercial Gaming was established by the University of Nevada, Reno in 1989. As the first academically oriented program of its kind, the Institute serves as a structure to broaden the understanding of gambling and the commercial gaming industries. Its aim is to encourage and promote research and learning so that the multifaceted issues surrounding gambling and commercial gaming and the ways in which individuals and society-at-large are affected might be addressed.

North American Training Institute (NATI)

The mission of the NATI is to provide information, to facilitate research and conduct professional training about gambling addiction. The NATI studies treatment techniques, methods and programs, provides public education and prevention services, and develops and implements problem gambling helpline services. These efforts are primarily directed at those individuals considered to be at highest risk for developing a gambling problem, especially adolescents.

Gambling Research Exchange Ontario

Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO) is an independent knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) organization that aims to eliminate harm from gambling. The GREO goal is to support evidence-informed decision making in responsible gambling policies, standards and practices. The work that is done by GREO is intended for researchers, policy makers, gambling regulators and operators, and treatment and prevention service providers.

National Center for Responsible Gambling

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. 

Founded in 1996 as a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the NCRG’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorders by supporting the finest peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological and youth gambling; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about gambling disorders and responsible gaming.

The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The mission of The BASIS is to strengthen worldwide understanding of addiction and minimize its harmful effects. To work toward this goal, The BASIS provides a forum for the free exchange of information related to addiction, and public access to the latest scientific developments and resources in the field.