UNLV IGI announces 2025 ESPN Research Fellowship recipients

The International Gaming Institute has awarded fellowships to four academics studying responsible gambling messaging in sports media.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) International Gaming Institute (IGI) has named the recipients of its 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. The selected scholars will conduct projects examining responsible gambling messaging in sports media and its impact on consumer well-being.

The fellowships include: Dr. Brandon Mastromartino of San Diego State University. He will evaluate NFL responsible gambling public service announcements.

Dr. Chris R. Noland of the University of South Florida will study the influence of celebrity endorsements in Instagram sports betting advertisements.

Dr. Ramon Silva Leite of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Brazil will analyze how responsible gambling messages are delivered in sports media.

Dr. Sarah Stokowski of Clemson University will research how student-athletes perceive and engage with sports betting content online.

Good to know: Earlier this year, IGI launched its first-ever Executive Directors’ Advisory Board, bringing in industry leaders from DraftKings, Penn Entertainment, Wondr Nation and others to provide strategic guidance

Each fellowship will run for six months, with research outcomes to be presented in a webinar hosted by IGI in 2026. The initiative is part of IGI’s ongoing partnership with ESPN, which focuses on advancing responsible gambling research in sports contexts.

Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, IGI’s Director of Research, said, “IGI is tremendously proud of the work our previous Fellowships produced. This research represents critical perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”

Kevin Martinez, ESPN Corporate Citizenship VP, added, “Responsible gaming continues to be a priority for ESPN, and we are proud to continue our collaboration with IGI to support research that delivers real-world impact.”

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