UNLV’s International Center for Gaming Regulation (ICGR) has awarded part-time academic research fellowships to Katherine Spilde, associate professor at San Diego State University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Kahlil Philander, assistant professor at Washington State University’s Carson College of Business.

The ICGR—a partnership between the International Gaming Institute (IGI) and the William S. Boyd School of Law—launched its fellowship program in 2016 in support of its research mission and goal of providing actionable intelligence to gaming regulators worldwide.

“I am convinced that the two research projects Spilde and Philander will work on at UNLV will contribute significantly to the ICGR’s objective of promoting excellence in gaming regulation around the world,” said Andre Wilsenach, ICGR’s executive director.

Spilde is a leading authority on American Indian economic development in the United States. During her fellowship at UNLV, she will weigh the perceived educational needs of tribal gaming regulators against the course content of existing education and training options and highlight the ways that tribal governments develop institutions and strategies that support both tribal nation building and corporate governance due to tribes’ dual role as gaming operators and regulators.

“In addition to helping expand training options, this project also has the potential to encourage productive and mutually supportive relationships with those engaged in the policy debates surrounding tribal gaming regulation,” Spilde said.

Philander is one of the world’s leading experts in responsible gambling programs. During his fellowship at UNLV, he will research current educational programs for workers in responsible gambling and conduct a training needs assessment study to develop a responsible gambling professional education program for specialists working in the industry today.

"Presently, responsible training programs are typically geared towards educating frontline employees in how to respond to customers. There is a gap in educational programs for the subject matter experts that must design and oversee responsible gambling policies and programs,” Philander said. “Through this study, we hope to develop the foundation of a (new) curriculum.”

The ICGR’s Academic Advisory Council double-blind peer reviewed fellowship applications on their significance and impact to the regulatory community as well as the quality and rigor of the research plan proposed, seeking to support research that provides immediate value to regulators making key decisions in all areas of gaming. Over the course of a period no greater than six months, the ICGR will provide up to $20,000 to Spilde and Philander in support of their research projects. Each fellow will present at various international conferences and produce white papers, with the goal of sparking further discussion and debate among regulators around the world on regulatory best practices.

About the International Center for Gaming Regulation

With the expansion of gaming across the globe, the need for a strong, knowledgeable voice in the area of gaming regulation has become critical. The UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation is positioned to be that centralized voice. The ICGR promotes international best practices in gaming regulation through conducting cutting-edge research and regulatory evaluation, disseminating data and information, and providing world-class educational programs for the world’s regulators. The ICGR is a partnership between UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI) and the William S. Boyd School of Law, building on the unique expertise of these two premier academic institutions.