Dr. Brett Abarbanel

Dr. Brett Abarbanel is the Executive Director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) and an Associate Professor in the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. She also holds a research affiliate appointment at the University of Sydney School of Psychology’s Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic. In her leadership role at IGI, she oversees research and industry engagement focused on the global gaming sector.

Her research explores the intersection of gambling with esports, video games, and traditional sports, covering gaming operations, technology, responsible gambling, and community relations. She serves as Executive Editor of the UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal and sits on the editorial boards of International Gambling Studies and Harvard’s Division on Addiction’s Brief Addiction Science Information Source.

Abarbanel recently completed a term on the International Advisory Panel for Singapore’s National Council on Problem Gambling. She is a founding director of the Nevada Esports Alliance and was an inaugural member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s Esports Technical Advisory Committee. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with The Innovation Group’s 2015 Emerging Leader Award and inclusion in the 2016 Global Gaming Business 40 Under 40 list.

She holds a B.S. in Statistics and a B.A. in Architectural Studies from Brown University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from UNLV, where she received Best Thesis and Best Dissertation awards.