The UNLV University Libraries Center for Gaming Research (CGR) recently selected five Eadington fellows for the 2015-2016 academic year. The CGR awards the fellowships annually to faculty and graduate researchers actively studying gaming and gambling.

Eadington fellows spend between two and five weeks conducting research at the University Libraries and present their findings through a colloquium series as well as their own scholarship.

Named in honor of William R. Eadington, who pioneered the academic study of gambling, fellowships have been awarded to 40 scholars since 2007. Fellows have produced a dozen books, 14 academic articles, and more than 10 dissertations from their work at the University Libraries.

“This year’s roster of Eadington fellows will greatly advance our understanding of several aspects of gambling in history, culture, and society,” said David G. Schwartz, director of the CGR. “I can think of no better tribute to the legacy of Bill Eadington than their important work."

The 2015-2016 Eadington Fellows

• Alex Kupfer, a Ph.D. recipient from New York University, will research the relationship between sports media and cultural memory by examining materials related to the World Series of Poker and Benny Binion. (Oct. 19-Nov. 15, 2015)
• Jon Cohen, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Virginia, will examine the rise of state lotteries in the social, political, cultural, economic and religious climate of the late 20th century. (Nov. 9-Dec. 11, 2015)
• Danielle Seid, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Oregon, will research The Kim Sisters to theorize about their significance with respect to race, gender, and American media in the postwar era. (Dec. 7-21, 2015)
• Scott Boylan, a professor at Washington & Lee University, will investigate how casino revenue generated from table games and slots has evolved over time. (Apr. 10-23, 2016)
• Paul Franke, a Ph.D. candidate from the Max Planck Institute, will study Las Vegas and Monaco to shed light on the production process of unique gaming experiences in both places. (Jul. 19-Aug. 16, 2016)

Public Lectures

Each fellow will share their research with the public through the program's colloquium series. Presentations are scheduled for 3 p.m. in Lied Library’s Goldfield Room:

• November 16, 2015: “The Biggest Game on TV: Benny Binion, the WSOP, and the Nostalgic Construction of Poker’s Past” by Alex Kupfer.
• December 3, 2015: “‘This Could Be Your Ticket Out': Social Mobility in the Age of Jackpot Capitalism” by Jon Cohen.
• December 21, 2015: “Forgotten Femmes, Forgotten War: The Kim Sisters’ Dis-Appearance From American Screen and Scene” by Danielle Seid.
• April 20, 2016: “The Evolution of Gaming Revenue in Nevada” by Scott Boylan.
• August 15, 2016: “The Making of the Las Vegas Consumption Experience in a Historical Perspective” by Paul Franke.

The UNLV University Libraries Center for Gaming Research (CGR) is a world-class hub for the scholarly analysis of gambling and gaming issues. Located within Special Collections at UNLV's Lied Library, the CGR’s main resource is the gaming collection, which contains many unique primary resources that cannot be found anywhere else. The CGR also offers several research tools and guides to gaming research through its website. The CGR has been awarding gaming fellowships since 2007 as part of its mission to promote the scholarly investigation of gambling.