TIGER Secures $4.3 Million to Advance Gambling Harm Prevention, Treatment and Research Across Tennessee
New state investment strengthens clinical services, expands prevention initiatives, and reinforces Tennessee's leadership in evidence-based gambling research.
The Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research (TIGER) at the University of Memphis has been awarded a $4.3 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS), extending the Institute's more than two decades of externally funded research, treatment, and public service.
The new funding will support TIGER's statewide network of treatment clinics, research initiatives, and prevention programs designed to improve outcomes for individuals affected by gambling disorder. Through its clinics, available both in person and via telehealth, TIGER has helped more than 3,000 Tennesseans address gambling-related challenges while generating valuable clinical data that informs evidence-based treatment approaches.
Under the leadership of Dr. James Whelan, Executive Director of TIGER, the Institute has earned an international reputation for advancing the science of gambling disorder prevention and treatment. By integrating clinical care with rigorous research, TIGER has developed a measurement-based approach that enables researchers and clinicians to better understand which interventions are most effective for different individuals, improving both the precision and effectiveness of treatment.
A key contributor to these efforts is Dr. Meredith Ginley, Associate Professor at East Tennessee State University, University of Memphis alumna, and longtime collaborator with the TIGER leadership team. Her work has helped advance innovative clinical models that translate research findings directly into improved patient care.
In addition to strengthening treatment services, the grant will expand TIGER's prevention research through a multidisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Ganga Urumutta Hewage of the Fogelman College of Business. Drawing on theories of persuasion and behavioral science, the research team is developing innovative strategies to encourage responsible gambling habits before problems develop.
One outcome of this collaboration is Control the Trolls (www.controlthetrolls.org), a prevention-focused website and social media initiative that promotes healthy gambling behaviors through positive habit formation. The program encourages individuals to establish gambling limits before they begin playing, with the goal of making responsible gambling practices as routine as buckling a seatbelt.
By combining clinical expertise, behavioral research, and innovative prevention strategies, TIGER continues to position Tennessee as a national leader in addressing gambling-related harms. The new investment will further strengthen the Institute's ability to translate research into real-world impact—improving lives, informing public policy, and advancing evidence-based solutions for communities across the state.
If you have questions about the award or project, contact Whelan at jwhelan@memphis.edu.