International Center for Responsible Gaming

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The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), formerly known as the National Center for Responsible Gambling (NCRG), is a non-profit organization in the United States dedicated to funding scientific research on gambling addiction.^[1][2] Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, it originally operated under the umbrella of the American Gaming Association, the primary trade group representing the casino industry.^[3][1] ICRG is now an independent entity.

ICRG's mission includes funding scientific research on pathological and youth gambling, with the aim of providing support to individuals dealing with gambling disorders. Additionally, it promotes the implementation of newly discovered research findings to enhance prevention, diagnosis, intervention, and treatment strategies.^[4] On January 1, 2020, the organization changed its name to the International Center for Responsible Gambling to reflect its expanded scope beyond the United States.^[5]

In the year 2000, the ICRG (formerly NCRG) established the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders (IRPGRD). Over the years, ICRG has received substantial financial support, with nearly $40 million committed to its initiatives.^[6][4] As of 2008, the IRPGRD was dependent on casino funding, which was channeled through the NCRG. Critics have questioned the independence of the IRPGRD's research,^[1] although IRPGRD executive director Christine Reilly has stated that the institute's contract with the NCRG ensures the industry does not interfere with its work.

Salon.com reported that while NCRG leaders claim to fund independent science, there is concern about the alignment of research findings with casino interests. This alignment has raised questions about how casinos benefit from gambling addiction,^[1] even though there is no evidence of tampering with research findings or skewed results.

In 2023, the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) awarded a grant of $600,000 to the University of Sydney to establish the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research (CEGR). The CEGR's central mission involves translating empirical research outcomes into practical, evidence-based strategies to prevent and mitigate gambling-related harm.^[7]