Bellagio to host UNLV's 19th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

The 19th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking will take place from May 26 to 28 at Bellagio Resort & Casino, with the event's schedule now officially revealed.

Hosted by the UNLV International Gaming Institute, the event will bring together researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals to examine developments in gambling, gaming, and risk behavior.

May 26

A keynote by Anette Hosoi of Massachusetts Institute of Technology is scheduled for the first day. It will be the conference’s first academic keynote in more than a decade.

Her research applies mathematical models to assess skill and luck across activities, including professional sports, fantasy sports, cyclocross racing, coin flipping, and mutual funds.

“The mathematical principles of game design present many exciting opportunities to shift the balance of skill and luck in games and other contests,” said Hosoi. “I’m very much looking forward to sharing some of our insights in this space, and to interacting with the conference attendees and with the stellar line-up of speakers.”

Other sessions that day include:

Real-Time AI for Predictive Responsible Gambling Using Live Wagering Transaction Data

Earle Hall, CEO of AXES.ai, will present an artificial intelligence system that tracks live betting data to detect risky behavior and identify intervention points.

Why Courts and Congress Should but Won’t Outlaw Prediction Markets

I. Nelson Rose of Whittier College will examine how prediction markets are treated under current law and the implications for regulation. 

The 1,500-foot Wall: Barriers between Cannabis and Gaming in Nevada and the Potential for Integration

Riana Durrett of the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute and Robin Goldstein of the UC Davis Cannabis Economics Group will review legal barriers between cannabis and gaming in Nevada, including limits on sales on the Las Vegas Strip, unlicensed activity and effects on revenue.

May 27

Risk Governance in Esports Gambling: Addressing Integrity and Regulation in a Rapidly Evolving Ecosystem

Researchers from the University of Agder will address governance in esports gambling, focusing on risks such as match-fixing, underage participation and unregulated betting. 

An In-Depth Analysis of Slot Machine Vlogs on YouTube

Another session by Tiange Xu of UNLV will analyze gambling-related YouTube content, finding that responsible gambling messaging appears in fewer than 10% of videos but is linked to higher engagement. The study also identifies common content patterns and audience behavior.

May 28

Beat the Sportsbook: The Theory and Practice of Successful Sports Betting

The day will include a presentation by Robert Scott of Monmouth University and Mikhail Sher on strategies to improve betting outcomes. The discussion will also cover trends in U.S. sports betting, including participation among younger and more affluent groups. 

Math, Data and Cognitive Bias: Educating Teens to Make Informed Decisions About Gambling

Arty Smith of the Gambling Awareness Initiative will present a program that uses data, probability, and cognitive-bias research to explain gambling risks to teenagers, including simulations and expected-value models to show long-term outcomes.

Organizers said more presentations will be announced. Full program details and registration are available online.