Is it gambling? The evolution of chance in video games and esports

Raschkowan Lecture Series: Gambling in the Digital Age, 2.0

Presenter: Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Director of Research, UNLV International Gaming Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Talk Abstract

Gambling elements have become quite popular in video games and esports, and the interaction of these concepts has become increasingly complex. The impacts can be difficult to navigate: in some cases, convergence has led to fascinating developments in games and digital health. In other cases, the potential for negative impacts warrants discussion and intervention. Dr. Abarbanel will explore where we have been and where we are going along the journey of esports and competitive video gameplay, and discuss where this intersection is showing up in unusual and unexpected ways.

Dr. Abarbanel will discuss the history of esports and esports betting, as well as how we play, watch and bet on games today. She will guide us through the future channels of this space, such as the intersection of games, gambling, and the metaverse, and how the concept of responsible innovation can come into play with game design, platform development, and more.

Speaker Bio

Brett Abarbanel is director of research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, International Gaming Institute and assistant professor in the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, with an affiliate position at the University of Sydney, Australia. Her research covers video games, esports and gambling; sports and esports; gambling and games in the metaverse; gambling operations and technology; and responsible gambling and community relations. Dr. Abarbanel is the executive editor of the UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal, on the editorial board at International Gambling Studies and Harvard University’s Brief Addiction Science Information Source, and recently completed a term on the International Advisory Panel for Singapore’s National Council on Problem Gambling. She has been interviewed as a gambling expert for numerous media entities, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and CNBC, and served as a consultant for multiple industry and government entities. She is a founding director of the Nevada Esports Alliance, which promotes development of best practices at the intersection of the esports and regulated gambling industries.

The Raschkowan webinar series is free to attend, but registration is required.  For more information or to register, see www.ncpgambling.org/Raschkowan