Brett Abarbanel

Executive Director, International Gaming Institute
Associate Professor, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
Affiliate Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles Gambling Studies Program
Expertise: Esports & Gambling, Gaming, Gaming Technologies, Tourism, Responsible Gambling

Biography

Brett Abarbanel is the executive director of UNLV's International Gaming Institute, with an affiliate position at the University of California, Los Angeles’s Gambling Studies Program. She has expertise in global gambling and social science applications, and her research covers Internet gambling policy and behavior, esports and gambling, operations and technology, and responsible gambling and community relations.

Abarbanel serves as co-executive editor of the UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal, which publishes internationally relevant gambling research articles representing a broad span of academic disciplines. She is a founding director of the Nevada Esports Alliance, which promotes the development of best practices at the intersection of the esports and regulated gambling industries. In 2021, she was among seven industry expert professionals named to the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s first-ever Esports Technical Advisory Committee, which is responsible for making recommendations to the board on guidelines for maintaining integrity in esports when betting is involved.

In 2015, Abarbanel was honored by the Global Gaming Expo and The Innovation Group with their Emerging Leader Award, and was named to the 2016 Global Gaming Business 40 Under 40 list.

She has been interviewed as a gambling expert for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Discovery Channel and served as a consultant for multiple industry and government entities around the world.

Education

  • Sc.B., Statistics, Brown University
  • A.B., Architectural Studies, Brown University
  • M.S., Hotel Administration, Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­
  • Ph.D., Hospitality Administration, Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­

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gaming & gambling, hospitality & tourism

Brett Abarbanel In The News

Bloomberg
Chief Financial Officers now play a critical role in shaping corporate strategy and positioning organizations to meet future challenges. This episode profiles DraftKings CFO Alan Ellingson: the online sports betting operator has recently turned profitable, and he'll play a key role in the company's next phase of growth.
Gambling News
Gambling software development company Playtech has unveiled a new multi-year partnership with the Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ (UNLV). Under the agreement, the two parties will work together to discover new tech-powered sustainable gambling solutions.
World Casino News
Playtech, a global leader in gambling technology, has joined forces with the Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ (UNLV) in a groundbreaking multiyear collaboration aimed at creating a more sustainable and responsible gambling landscape. This partnership, utilizing the extensive resources and expertise from UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI), will focus on integrating advanced technologies to promote safer gambling practices.
Indian Gaming
The Ê×Ò³| Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ (UNLV) and Playtech have announced a multi-year collaboration focused on leveraging technology to create a more sustainable gambling environment. The collaboration will see UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI) and Playtech working together on various topics of shared interest, drawing on the extensive experience of both organizations.

Articles Featuring Brett Abarbanel

unlv pumpkins
Campus News | November 4, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories at UNLV, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.

Students pass by Lied Library as they walk campus on the first day of Fall 2024 semester classes
Campus News | September 6, 2024

A collection of news highlights featuring students and faculty.

Mirage Resort
Campus News | August 1, 2024

Roundup of the hottest news headlines featuring UNLV students and staff.

Josh Hawkins, UNLV
Campus News | July 3, 2024

News highlights featuring UNLV students and staff who made (refreshing) waves in the headlines.