The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) has named Dr Travis Sztainert as its new Director of Research and Education.
Dr Sztainert brings experience in responsible gambling research and knowledge translation, which is expected to enhance the ICRG’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible gambling practices.
Arthur Paikowsky, ICRG President, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Travis Sztainert to the ICRG team. His extensive background in responsible gambling research and his commitment to transforming data into actionable knowledge align perfectly with our organisation’s mission. We look forward to leveraging Travis’s insights to advance our efforts in promoting responsible gambling practices.”
The ICRG has been involved in several initiatives aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. In January 2024, Pavilion Payments funded a project led by Dr Michael JA Wohl at Carleton University. The initiative focuses on developing tools for responsible gambling, specifically pre-emptive limit-setting options to reduce problem gaming.
In another development involving the ICRG, the University of Sydney launched the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research, funded by gambling operators, including AU$600,000 (US$396,982) from the ICRG over three years.
This partnership raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Critics, such as Dr Samantha Thomas from Deakin University, argue that research related to public health should be independent of industries with profit motives.
