Bill Eadington, economics professor and director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business, will be recognized next week by The National Council on Problem Gambling for his lifetime of work addressing problem gambling.

In choosing Eadington to receive the Goldman Lifetime Award for Advocacy at the national conference in Milwaukee, Wis., next Friday, the Council said, "In the field devoted to the academic study of gambling and gaming industries, he is the founding giant and the internationally respected leader. Bill served on the NCPG Board of Directors for 30 years, including as President in 2008, and is a longtime advocate for responsible gaming."

The Council only bestows its Lifetime Awards "in exceptional times and circumstances, to individuals who exemplify at least 20 years of service on behalf of those affected by problem gambling."

Last November, Eadington was also inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame, the highest honor accorded by the gaming industry, with some previous inductees including Phil Satre, Steve Wynn, William Harrah and Bill Pennington.

At that time, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, said, "We owe Dr. Eadington much of the credit for our current understanding of the economic and social impacts of commercial gaming."

Eadington has written extensively on issues relating to the economic and social impacts of the industry. He has authored several books, including "The Downside: Problem and Pathological Gambling" and "Gambling: Public Policies and the Social Sciences."

Eadington has also served as the organizer of the University's ongoing triennial International Conferences on Gambling and Risk Taking, which began in 1974, and is founder and co-moderator of the annual Executive Development Program for Senior Level Casino Executives.

Eadington has been at the University of Nevada, Reno since 1969. In 1990, he was awarded a Foundation Professorship at the University, and since 2004, he has held the Philip G. Satre Chair of Gaming Studies at the University.