Respected By All, Devoted To His Cause
Bill Eadington died this month at the age of 67. Professor Eadington was the longtime director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Standing Above The Heated Rhetoric
With a lifetime devoted to understanding all aspects of the gaming world, what most set him apart from other experts in the field was Professor Eadington's belief that groups who differed in their outlook on gambling would make more progress if they worked together, rather than criticizing one another.
He had a reputation for being "the smartest guy around" said one of his colleges, and for "all intents and purposes, he invented the field of gambling studies." Simply put, anybody and everybody on an academic level wanting to understand the world of gaming better, went to him.
Young Prodigy Brought Dignity To His Field
Receiving his bachelor's degrees in mathematics and economics from Santa Clara University at the tender age of 23, he completed his course work for a doctorate in economics at Claremont Graduate School.
His commitment to a more comprehensive understanding of a world viewed by many in a negative light led him far and wide. He did consulting work for governments in South Africa and South Korea on the economic potential of gambling even as he served on the board of the National Council on Problem Gambling, which gave him a lifetime achievement award last year.
In 2011, Professor Eadington was elected to the American Gaming Association's Hall of Fame, a small and eclectic group that includes Wayne Newton, Donald J. Trump and David Copperfield.
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