In The News: Division of Research

Travel Weekly

Although Elaine Wynn, co-founder of Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts, died April 14 at the age of 82, her influence will continue to be felt on the Las Vegas Strip and beyond for decades.

Nevada Current

MGM Resorts International is advertising an offshore casino and sports betting site that is off limits to gamblers in the United States — a move that could prompt more regulatory headaches for the company, which recently paid $16 million to state and federal authorities for violating anti-money laundering laws.

Casino.org

A casino executive speaking at this week’s “Cannabis & Gaming” discussion hosted by UNLV’s Cannabis Policy Institute and International Gaming Institute opined that the legal gaming and weed industries could benefit from collaboration. But until there’s a federal change to cannabis’ classification as a Schedule 1 narcotic, that alignment will likely remain on hold.

Casino.com

Las Vegas tourism and gaming leaders are pressing Nevada officials to re-evaluate decades-old restrictions separating cannabis and casino businesses. They assert that updated regulations could revitalize the troubled tourism market and enhance competitiveness.

Gambling News

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) International Gaming Institute has announced a collaboration with the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), which will seek to create a laboratory to examine the risks and opportunities of AI in the gambling industry.

CDC Gaming

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ International Gaming Institute on Wednesday announced the Responsible Online Gaming Association as a founding member of its AI Research Hub. The initiative marks a step toward leveraging artificial intelligence to support players and identify advanced responsible gaming practices.

Yogonet Gaming News

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ International Gaming Institute (IGI) has officially launched the AI Research Hub (AiR Hub), a new initiative focused on studying the impact, risks, and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in the gambling industry.

Phys.org

As gamers and spectators prepare for the 2025 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas on May 27, a cultural conversation around AI and ethics in gambling is brewing. Though the gambling industry is expected to exceed $876 billion worldwide by 2026, there is a growing concern that unregulated AI systems can exploit vulnerable individuals and profit from them.

European Gaming

Today, UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) announced the launch of its AI Research Hub (AiR Hub), a significant step towards advancing research and understanding on the impacts, risks, and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) within the gambling industry.

SiGMA

Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, was featured in SiGMA Magazine issue 32, unveiled at BiS SiGMA Americas 2025 in São Paulo last month. The feature explores Dr. Ghaharian’s pivotal role at the intersection of artificial intelligence and iGaming, spotlighting his influence on the industry’s ethical and technological evolution.

Cronkite News

Gambling disorder is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling or betting despite the toll it takes on a person’s life. While casino gaming is legal in 43 states, Nevada has electronic gambling machines inside retail and convenience stores, which means everyone in Las Vegas has a machine within just a short drive.

MaxBet Podcast

The Doctor will bluff you now. Dr. Brett Abarbanel from UNLV’s International Gaming Institute joins the MaxBet Podcast with dinner party facts, bold suggestions for the casino industry, and a peek at the research projects that actually get people talking. We cover the science behind dice design, how research in the gaming industry gets funded, and the success of UNLV’s student internship program connecting future talent with casino operators. She also shares how she won the biggest hand of her life with a bluff and walked away with a husband. Sparkly shoes included.