Obituary: William Eadington, gaming academic, 67
February 12, 2013
University
of Nevada Reno (UNR) economist and renowned gaming expert William (Bill) Eadington has
passed away after a year-and-a-half battle with cancer.
Eadington
was perhaps best known as longtime
director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming,
which he headed since its inception at UNR in 1989. He was also a 30-year board
member on the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). In these roles, he
was a sought after speaker at numerous gaming conference and a go-to resource
for Casino Journal, its various sister publications and other magazines
covering the legalized wagering industry.
Eadington also wrote numerous books
and articles on gaming and often served as a consultant/advisor for governments
and organizations on various casino-related issues. He was recently inducted
into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame and given a Special
Achievement Award for Gaming Education. Last year, he received the NCPG’s
Goldman Lifetime Award for Advocacy.
“He
was the most influential academic in the gaming industry,” Reno gaming analyst
Ken Adams told RGJ.com. “He built that
institute as an academic discipline when no one was taking it seriously. Insiders
in the industry would argue but when any legislation was discussed, he was the
best guy to have testify. He brought them back to the center. He knew the good
points and bad points. He had really valuable insights.”
He is survived by his wife, son,
daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
