The International Center for Responsible Gaming on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2025 Scientific Achievement Awards, honoring people making exceptional contributions to advancing research, education, and policy in the field of gambling disorder and responsible gambling.
This year’s awards recognize two people.
Dr. Katherine Spilde, San Diego State University professor and Endowed Chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, is being honored with the Educator Award. Spilde established an academic study of tribal gaming and has mentored future scholars.
As the architect of the nation’s only four-year degree in Tribal Casino Operations Management, she has trained thousands of students while embedding responsible gambling into higher education. Spilde’s groundbreaking research examines the economic and social effects of tribal gaming and continues to influence responsible gambling practices across the industry.
Beyond scholarship, Spilde has championed Native voices in gambling research and fostered collaborations between tribal and commercial gaming communities, ensuring that academic insights translate into meaningful practice and policy.
The Research Investigator Award recipient is Dr. Joshua B. Grubbs, an Associate Professor, Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. He is recognized for prolific contributions to gambling disorder research, particularly in the areas of sports betting and behavioral addictions. In less than a decade since completing his doctorate degree, Grubbs has authored more than 165 peer-reviewed articles, secured more than $2 million in research funding, and led ICRG’s three-year longitudinal study on U.S. sports wagering.
Grubbs’ work, published in journals such as JAMA Psychiatry and JAMA Network Open, advances understanding of the risks associated with sports betting and reshaped screening and treatment approaches within the Veterans Affairs system. Grubbs also is a dedicated mentor, guiding doctoral students and young investigators into academic careers.
The ICRG Scientific Achievement Awards are presented annually to recognize individuals whose work has made significant and lasting contributions to gambling disorder research, education, and awareness. The 2025 awards will be formally presented during the awards luncheon at the 26th Annual ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction October 5–6 in Las Vegas.
