The International Gaming Institute (IGI) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has unveiled the recipients of the 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. This year’s group comprises scholars whose proposals focus on enhancing insights into responsible gambling communication within sports media and its effects on consumer well-being.

The fellowship awardees include Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, Dr. Chris R. Noland, Dr. Ramon Silva Leite, and Dr. Sarah Stokowski.

Dr. Brandon Mastromartino serves as the Director of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming and is an Assistant Professor at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University. His project will assess two responsible gambling public service announcements (PSAs) from the NFL through a fan-focused marketing lens.

Dr. Chris R. Noland is an Assistant Professor of Advertising at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. He plans to investigate the impact of celebrity endorsements and promotional incentives in Instagram ads on online sports betting behaviors.

Dr. Ramon Silva Leite is a Professor in the Postgraduate Management Program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Brazil. He will explore how responsible gambling messages are crafted and communicated through sports media, along with how younger sports bettors interpret and react to these messages.

Dr. Sarah Stokowski is an Associate Professor of Athletic Leadership at Clemson University’s Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development. Her research will focus on college student-athletes’ perceptions and interactions with sports betting content on social platforms.

These research projects aim to yield strategies that policymakers and industry stakeholders can employ to protect the welfare of sports bettors and the broader public.

“The IGI is immensely proud of the impactful research driven by our previous fellowships. A primary objective of this initiative is to foster innovative research that enhances understanding of the evolving international sports and betting landscape,” stated Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, IGI’s Director of Research.

“This research provides crucial insights into gambling portrayals in sports media, offering meaningful implications for all involved in the gambling industry.”

“Responsible gaming remains a central focus for ESPN, and we take pride in continuing our partnership with IGI to support research that makes a real-world difference,” commented Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship.

“These upcoming projects will deliver crucial insights into effective approaches for communicating responsible gaming messages across sports media, thus enhancing standards that safeguard fans universally.”

Each research fellowship spans six months. The findings will be showcased in an IGI webinar in 2026.