New Center Studies Global Gaming

The L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University announced the creation of the Center for Global Gaming Research at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Global vision for gaming education

Developed with the goal of providing a global vision for gaming education, the center emphasizes cultural sensitivity and competence, government-industry relations, standards and industry intelligence from around the world. In particular, the center will teach gaming operations from a whole property perspective with an emphasis on the emerging integrated resort model.

“The global gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing hospitality and tourism sectors worldwide,” said Carl Winston, director of the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

“Legal gaming is now available in more than 120 countries, many of these in the Pacific Rim region. We look forward to using our research and experience to work with industry partners on solving real-world issues, anticipating market needs and filling a leadership role for the gaming industry in this area of the world.”

SDSU uniquely positioned

The school has significant relationships with academia, business and government in the Pacific Rim, and is also home to the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, which provides significant research and academic knowledge on tribal gaming, including a four-year degree program in tribal government-owned gaming. 

The synergy of the Sycuan Institute and the Center for Global Gaming can catapult SDSU into a leadership position within the global gaming industry by linking the study of casino gaming and the project of nation building in new ways.

The center works in conjunction with gaming industry partners including the American Gaming Association, the National Center for Responsible Gaming and gaming operators and vendors.

Center's future

The center anticipates an ambitious research program that will produce an annual census on topics such as:

• Legalization
• Regulation
• Taxation
• Responsible gaming
• Online gaming
• Field studies on total slot positions and table games

SDSU gaming professor Jeff L. Voyles will serve as director of the center.