Located in western Massachusetts, UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' five-campus University of Massachusetts system. UMass Amherst is a nationally recognized teaching and research institution with a current enrollment of about 28,500 students.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Rachel Volberg is one of the world's leading experts on gambling, sports betting and problem gambling, Her expertise has led to invitations to join research teams in New Zealand, Canada, Australia,  New Zealand and the United States. 

She is the first researcher to receive funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study the prevalence of problem gambling in the general population.

sports betting

Economic Impact of Gambling

Gambling

Problem Gambling

Societal Impacts of Gambling

Sports Gambling

UMass Amherst Faculty Profile

SEIGMA: Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA)

Legalized sports betting creates new generation of problematic gamblers

Shohei Ohtani

In Ippei Mizuhara’s text messages, problem gamblers see a familiar obsession

Study Reveals Massachusetts Casinos Fail to Fuel Problem Gambling Surge

The cost of legalized gambling: Disturbing new survey shows half of all sports betters in Connecticut are 'problem gamblers,' just two years after law allowing it was enacted

Report: Encore Boston Harbor Adds Billions to the economy

The state always wins when it comes to gambling, critics say

Since mobile sports betting recently became legal in Mass., advocates worry it could increase problem gambling

The $22 Billion Wager: DraftKings and Others Are Reaching for a Piece of the Sports-Gambling Prize.

Nangle Arrest Highlights A Common Problem In Massachusetts — Compulsive Gambling

Research Professor of Epidemiology

Mount Holoyke College President Lynn Pasquerella discusses the casino controversy in Massachusetts with Dr. Rachel Volberg, Research Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The full quality version can be watched/downloaded at: https://archive.org/details/DifficultDialogues121713Show2

Dr. Rachel Volberg discusses issues surrounding expanded gambling

Dr Rachel Volberg, a distinguished Research Professor from the University of Massachusetts Amherst will explore the potential impacts of legalized sports betting in the United States. 
IAGR2023 is taking place in Botswana from 16 to 19 October 2023. 
Book your tickets at www.iagr.org.

IAGR2023 Speaker Spotlight Rachel Volberg

The Massachusetts State Lottery is responding to the ramp up of sports betting with a new $50 scratch ticket. It may boost the lottery’s bottom line, but some experts worry about the impact new offerings may have for problem gamblers and those at risk of gambling addiction. Les Bernal, the director of Stop Predatory Gambling, and Dr. Rachel Volberg, a professor at UMass Amherst, who specializes in gambling research joined Sue O'Connell to discuss how gambling in Massachusetts is scaling up, and how it is impacting consumers.

After the show’s taping, the Massachusetts State Lottery sent GBH News the following statement:

“For more than 50 years, the Lottery has operated in a regulated, transparent and responsible manner, providing a source of entertainment for those 18 years of age and older who choose to play our games. The Lottery currently partners with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling Services to raise awareness of problem gambling, train Lottery staff, and promote treatment and resources for those in need of assistance.”

Christian Teja
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Gambling is ramping up in Massachusetts. Is that good or bad for consumers?

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