ICRG Center of Excellence Grant for Research on Responsible Gaming

Funding to establish a Centre of Excellence dedicated to innovative research on Responsible Gaming.

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), formerly the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), is a US-based 501(c)(3) charitable organisation that was founded in 1996. Its mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorder by supporting peer-reviewed, scientific research into gambling disorder; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about gambling disorder and responsible gaming.

The International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) is inviting applications from researchers and institutions to create a Centre of Excellence (COE) focused on innovative research on Responsible Gaming (RG). The goal is to develop evidence-based strategies that promote meaningful behaviour change, improve player protection, and boost engagement with RG tools and messaging.

This funding opportunity supports research aimed at increasing the adoption, usage, and sustained engagement with existing RG tools – such as limit-setting features, play breaks, reality checks, and financial management aids – especially among high-risk populations. The research should generate practical insights to enhance the effectiveness of RG strategies in real-world gambling settings. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Investigating how protective social norms can influence RG tool use and reduce stigma around seeking help.
• Examining the impact of non-monetary or low-risk incentives (eg progress tracking, achievement badges, in-app rewards) on the uptake and sustained use of RG tools.
• Using behavioural design principles (eg default settings, timely prompts, personalised feedback) to increase the effectiveness of RG tools.

One grant will be awarded.