{"id":2084206,"date":"2023-10-30T15:01:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T19:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-gambling-enterprises-are-investing-in-addiction-research-drawing-skepticism\/"},"modified":"2023-10-30T15:06:13","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T19:06:13","slug":"big-gambling-enterprises-are-investing-in-addiction-research-drawing-skepticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-gambling-enterprises-are-investing-in-addiction-research-drawing-skepticism\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambling giants invest in addiction research, raising doubts."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbig-gambling-enterprises-are-investing-in-addiction-research-drawing-skepticism%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2084206&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Controversy Surrounds\u200d Largest Donation to Gambling Addiction Non-Profit<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">When one\u200c of\u200c the largest international gambling addiction non-profits announced the largest donation in the organization\u2019s\u200c history, \u2064it\u200b was praised\u200d as a welcome\u2063 signal that\u2063 problem\u200d gambling has become a\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-fights-that-lay-ahead-in-congress-with-debt-ceiling-in-rearview\/\" title=\"Congress faces upcoming fights with the debt ceiling behind them.\">high-priority issue<\/a>. However, the $1.05 million\u200d donation\u200d to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icrg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">International Center\u200b for Responsible Gaming<\/span><\/a>  \u200c (ICRG) has brought global concern because of the donor\u2014Bally\u2019s Corporation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Bally&#8217;s \u200bis \u200ba global casino-entertainment company\u2063 with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/worried-about-an-ai-dystopia-the-global-fertility-industry-has-it-beat-by-decades\/\" title=\"AI dystopia concerns? Global fertility industry already ahead.\">rapidly increasing presence<\/a> \u200bin online\u2064 sports betting and iGaming offerings and,\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yogonet.com\/international\/news\/2023\/05\/11\/67113-bally-39s-posts-9-revenue-growth-in-q1-driven-by-record-casinos-resorts-segment-performance#:~:text=Bally%2527s%2520now%2520expects%2520full%252Dyear,adjusted%2520EBITDAR%2520of%2520%2524105.1%2520million.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">according to its regulatory filings<\/span><\/a>, expects to make up to $2.6\u2063 billion by the end of 2023. While the ICRG \u2062has lauded this donation, some\u200c are\u2064 concerned about \u2064its influence on the organization\u2019s stated goal\u2064 of providing \u200cindividuals with high-quality \u200dgambling addiction\u2063 care.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;The gambling industry is not the appropriate vehicle to be spreading awareness \u2064on how to address and minimize gambling addiction,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">said \u2064Brianne\u200b Doura-Schawohl, a problem-gambling expert who owns \u2064a Washington lobbying organization working for solutions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;There has been an exorbitant amount of criticism of the validity and the value that comes from them,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">she told The Epoch \u2064Times.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">In a press release announcing Bally\u2019s donation, the\u200d ICRG said the money \u200bwould go \u200dto two significant research \u2063grants \u200daimed at enhancing responsible gambling strategies and gaining\u2064 a deeper understanding of\u2063 the \u2063health challenges\u2064 faced \u2062by young\u200c adult gamblers.\u200d A total of $402,500\u200c would go to the \u2063Center of Excellence in \u2063Gambling Research at the University of Sydney, Australia, \u2062and $172,500 to the University of Washington for Research on\u200b Young Adult Sports Wagering.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Art Paikowsky, who became President of the ICRG in 2021, told\u2062 The Epoch \u200cTimes he is appreciative of donations from gambling companies, \u2064saying\u200d they \u2062show &#8220;a\u2064 growing awareness of the fact\u2064 that some people have been harmed by \u2064gambling. They\u2019re starting\u200d to\u200b say \u200b&#8217;we own a responsibility to support \u2064organizations whose \u200dintention is to help\u200b people.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;I can\u2019t answer \u2064that.&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">When asked about \u200cBally\u2019s intentions in donating\u2064 more \u200dthan\u2062 a million dollars \u200dto the organization,\u2062 Mr. Paikowsky\u200c said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p3\">Bally\u2019s has given smaller \u2063donations to the ICRG in the past, \u200cjoined by \u2064major gambling company funders that include MGM Resorts International, Caesars Foundation, Sands Inc.,\u2063 Wynn Resorts,\u2062 Boyd Gaming Corporation,\u200c DraftKings, \u200cFanDuel, poker machine company IGT,\u200d and several other \u200dentities. Its\u200b board of directors\u200d comprises several executives representing U.S.-based\u2062 casino resorts.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;There\u2019s no integration between our board \u200dand the scientific board. Whatever our results \u2063are, the information is\u200b unimpeachable. There is\u200c no collusion\u2063 in\u2062 any sense. If there were, we\u2019d be out of \u200cbusiness. But this \u200bfirewall \u200bapproach \u2063has enabled us to protect the integrity of the research.&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">According to Mr. \u2062Paikowsky, the\u2062 ICRG\u200b has two distinct\u200b boards\u2014one for \u2063the non-profit\u200d organization and another \u200dfor\u2063 research.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;Why is the industry \u200bin the\u200b leadership?&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ms. \u2063Doura-Schawohl, \u2062however, believes that \u2063having gambling interests anywhere\u200b on \u200cthe ICRG\u2019s \u2063board \u2062is\u2063 problematic.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">The\u200d donation has yet \u2062to be well \u200creceived\u2064 by some in Australia who see the University\u200c of Sydney&#8217;s target research as troublesome. According to a report by\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2023\/aug\/17\/university-of-sydney-gambling-research-centre-bankrolled-by-casinos-is-troubling-experts-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s2\">The Guardian<\/span><\/a>, some public health experts\u200d have\u200c criticized the University \u200dfor accepting money from gambling interests but add that researchers and the university believe the partnership will produce more helpful \u200bresearch\u200d that \u200climits \u2064consumer harm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">According to University \u200cof Sydney Professor Sally \u200bGaisbury, the gambling companies \u200bwould\u2062 not\u2062 be allowed to\u2062 &#8220;constrain or edit the \u2063research in any way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Associate Professor Sean Cowlishaw, a public \u2062health expert at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University in \u2062Australia, told The Guardian that the funding arrangement was &#8220;clearly opposed&#8221; to\u2063 a recent parliamentary \u2062committee\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;It\u2019s troubling in part because it normalizes the relationship with research institutions \u2064and the gambling industry. It\u2019s quite unprecedented for such\u200b a prestigious academic institution in Australia to formalize this sort of\u200c funding relationship with gambling industry groups and\u2064 to frame this as some form of center for excellence.&#8221;<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mr. Paikowski \u200csaid that the donations from gambling companies should not be viewed as a negative but\u2062 one of\u2063 awareness.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;Writing a check is one way to do this.&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">He added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What measures can \u200cbe taken to ensure transparency and accountability when accepting donations from industries that may \u2062have a vested interest in the\u200d outcome of the research or initiatives being\u2064 funded<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The scientific research. <\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Critics argue \u2062that this\u200d donation poses a conflict of interest for the ICRG, as it receives funding from the very industry it seeks\u2063 to address. They believe that the influence of gambling companies may compromise the organization&#8217;s ability to provide unbiased and effective care for individuals struggling with\u2064 gambling addiction.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;It&#8217;s like \u2063having \u200b<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-gambling-enterprises-are-investing-in-addiction-research-drawing-skepticism\/\" title=\"Gambling giants invest in addiction research, raising doubts.\">tobacco companies fund lung cancer research<\/a>. There&#8217;s\u2064 an inherent conflict of interest,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">said Doura-Schawohl.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">Supporters\u200c of \u2062the \u200ddonation, on the other hand, argue that it is\u2063 a positive step forward in encouraging the gambling industry to take responsibility\u200c for its negative impact \u2062on society. They\u200d believe \u2064that\u200c by contributing to addiction research and treatment, companies like\u2064 Bally&#8217;s\u2064 are acknowledging their role \u2064and working towards ensuring a safer\u200d gambling environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">However, \u200bit is important to \u2062note\u200c that Bally&#8217;s and other gambling companies have a history of facing \u200dcriticism for their \u2064marketing and promotional \u2063strategies that target vulnerable individuals\u2063 and\u200b contribute to the rise in gambling addiction cases. This raises concerns\u200d about the true intentions behind their donations\u200c and whether they are\u200d truly committed\u2064 to addressing the issue or simply seeking positive publicity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">The ICRG, in response to\u2064 the controversy,\u200b has emphasized that \u2062the organization\u2064 maintains its independence and integrity in conducting research and\u200d providing care for gambling addiction. \u2063It asserts that \u200bthe funding received from gambling companies does not influence \u200bits \u2064work and\u200d that \u200bthe research conducted is impartial and based \u200bon \u200cscientific principles.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;We thoroughly\u2062 vet and evaluate all research projects and ensure that they\u2064 align with our mission of advancing knowledge and \u2063understanding \u200bof gambling addiction,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">said Paikowsky.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p3\">Despite these assurances,\u200b the controversy \u2063remains unsettled. \u200bThe \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/acm-awards-break-from-mainstream-trend-and-nominate-countrys-biggest-artist-morgan-wallen\/\" title=\"ACM Awards Break from Mainstream Trend and Nominate Country\u2019s Biggest Artist, Morgan Wallen\">debate raises important questions<\/a> about \u2064the ethics of accepting donations from industries directly linked to the issues being addressed by non-profit organizations. It calls into question whether \u200dthe potential \u200bbenefits of these donations outweigh the risks of compromising the integrity and effectiveness of the organization&#8217;s work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Moving forward, \u200cit\u200b is crucial \u200bfor both the gambling industry and \u200dnon-profit organizations to maintain transparency and ensure that their actions align with their stated goals. Open dialogue and \u2064collaboration with experts and stakeholders \u200coutside of the\u2063 industry \u200dcan help mitigate potential \u2063conflicts \u2064of interest and ensure that efforts to\u200d address gambling addiction\u2064 are genuinely effective \u200dand impartial.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>&#8220;It&#8217;s important for non-profit organizations \u2063to remain diligent and skeptical of potential conflicts of interest when accepting donations. They\u2064 should carefully assess\u200d the intentions and track record of donors to ensure that their \u200dcredibility and mission aren&#8217;t compromised,&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">advises \u2062Doura-Schawohl.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">The controversy surrounding Bally&#8217;s\u2062 donation to the ICRG\u2062 highlights the delicate balance\u200d organizations must strike between funding their initiatives and maintaining their independence and credibility. It serves as a reminder that the fight against gambling \u2064addiction requires constant vigilance and careful consideration of \u2063the sources and motivations behind financial support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>donation of $1.05 million to the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has raised concerns due to their association with gambling. Despite being the largest donation in the organization&#8217;s history, it highlights the growing importance of addressing problem gambling as a significant issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2335,"featured_media":2084207,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2084206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2335"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2084206"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084206\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2084207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2084206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2084206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2084206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}