NCPG Annual Conference 2027 Program & Review Volunteer Opportunities
WASHINGTON (September 3, 2026) – The National Council on Problem Gambling is convening a distinguished group of professionals to help guide the NCPG Annual Conference 2027 which will be held July 21–23, 2027, in Chicago, IL.
This is an invitation to collaborate with peers across research, treatment, prevention, recovery, responsible gambling, and related areas to ensure the conference reflects the field’s most pressing needs. Together, we will identify the priorities, voices, and ideas that deserve a place on the national stage and help ensure every session delivers practical, evidence-based value to attendees.
Two volunteer bodies make this work possible, NCPG is recruiting participants for both:
NCPG Conference Program Workgroup — A select group of field leaders who will work together to identify the priorities and voices that will define the conference.
NCPG Conference Peer Review Panel — A peer-review body that evaluates submitted proposals to help ensure the program reflects sound, evidence-based content.
Both opportunities are open to current NCPG members only. Please review the roles below and complete the application HERE.
Additional Opportunity to Get Involved
As NCPG begins planning for the 2027 conference, the organization is also interested in hearing from members who may be interested in volunteering onsite during the conference. This is an early expression of interest only and does not represent a commitment to volunteer or guarantee a volunteer opportunity. Responses will help NCPG understand the potential volunteer pool as planning gets underway. Additional details will be shared with respondents as conference planning progresses.
At a Glance
Conference Program Workgroup | Conference Peer Review Panel | |
Focus | Sets the educational strategy and direction of the conference | Reviews and scores submitted proposals for quality and evidence base |
Volunteer Qualifications | Recognized leaders in their area of the field | A mix of qualified professionals with relevant expertise |
Size | No more than 10 members | Scaled to submission volume; may be expanded as needed |
Service Period | October 2026 – August 2027 | October 2026 – January 2027, including training and a concentrated review window |
Time Commitment | Initially will meet weekly to establish the conference program from October through January and then support as needed until the conference dates. | Reviewer training + up to ~25 proposals in the review window |
Minimum Eligibility | Current NCPG members | Current NCPG members |
Selection | Competitive; by application and staff review | By application and staff review |
NCPG Conference Program Workgroup
Purpose
The Conference Program Workgroup sets the educational direction of the NCPG Annual Conference before the call for presentations opens. Working from NCPG’s strategic priorities, member and attendee feedback, and an environmental scan of the field, the workgroup defines the conference’s educational objectives, themes, and priority content areas; identifies gaps; and recommends invited speakers and sessions to meet those objectives. The workgroup is advisory: it shapes and recommends, while NCPG staff make final programming decisions.
Responsibilities
Define target audience for the conference. Based on this, define the objectives for the conference.
Define the conference’s overarching educational objectives and help shape an annual theme. Establish at least three objectives that will support continuing education credit needs of individuals attending.
Identify priority content areas, emerging science and trends, and evergreen topics supported by new evidence.
Surface content gaps and underrepresented perspectives.
Recommend invited speakers, keynotes, plenaries, and intentionally planned sessions aligned to the objectives.
Advise on the balance between invited and submitted content; goal should be 75% invited and 25% from abstract submissions. Helps control content and speakers and diversify speaker pool.
Help ensure every session ties to a strategic priority.
Serve as ambassadors for the conference, strengthening stakeholder engagement and helping promote the event
Volunteer Qualifications
This is a selective, high-impact opportunity reserved for recognized leaders in their areas of the field. NCPG is assembling a small group whose combined expertise span:
Research and academia
Prevention and public health
Treatment and clinical practice
Responsible gambling
Recovery and lived experience
Advocacy and policy
Emerging issues and markets
The workgroup also includes representation from the conference co-host, the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling. Strong candidates are well-connected, current on developments in their domain, and able to think strategically about the direction of the field.
Conference Program Workgroup Selection Criteria
Seats for the Conference Program Workgroup are limited to a small number of participants. Applications will be reviewed competitively using consistent selection criteria. Strong candidates will demonstrate:
Field Expertise & Contributions: Demonstrated expertise and meaningful contributions to their area of the field through research, professional or clinical leadership, program development, publications, presentations, advocacy, awards, or other significant work.
Current Knowledge: Active engagement with current research, emerging issues, innovations, and developments relevant to their area of expertise.
Strategic Perspective: The ability to look beyond individual topics or sessions and identify emerging priorities, trends, and opportunities that can inform the broader direction of the conference and the field.
Relevant Networks & Reach: Professional connections and knowledge of the field that can help identify and recruit high-quality speakers, emerging experts, and voices or perspectives that may not typically be represented at the conference.
Education-First Approach: A commitment to developing high-quality, evidence-based educational content that prioritizes attendee learning and professional development over promotional or commercial interests.
Collaboration & Workgroup Fit: The ability to work collegially with individuals representing different perspectives and areas of expertise; consider differing viewpoints; provide constructive input; and contribute to collective decision-making.
Final selection will also consider the overall composition of the Workgroup. The goal is to create a balanced group representing a range of expertise, professional perspectives, backgrounds, geographic representation, and other experiences that strengthen the conference program and support a broad, forward-looking perspective.
Composition & Service Period
The Workgroup will be no more than 10 members. The Workgroup convenes in early October 2026 and serves through the July 2027 conference, concluding with an early-August 2027 debrief that informs the 2028 cycle.
Time Commitment
Regular virtual meetings will be held more frequently, up to weekly, during the priority-setting phase in early fall 2026 and then approximately monthly, with focused review meetings in December 2026 and possibly January 2027. Plan for roughly two to four hours per month, with heavier activity during peak planning.
Eligibility
Open to current NCPG members only.
What You Will Gain
A meaningful leadership role shaping the direction of the field’s premier conference
Discounted conference registration
Recognition in conference materials
Connection with a select group of leaders across disciplines
NCPG Conference Peer Review Panel
Purpose
The Conference Peer Review Panel safeguards the quality and scientific integrity of the conference program. Members conduct blind, criteria-based peer review of submitted proposals, scoring them against an established rubric so that the final program reflects sound, evidence-based, and practically useful content. Members may also be invited to support NCPG’s broader educational content review throughout the year.
Responsibilities
Complete the self-paced reviewer training before scoring begins
Conduct blind, unbiased review of assigned proposals (up to approximately 25 per reviewer)
Score submissions against the established criteria and provide constructive comments
Recuse from any submission that presents a conflict of interest
Meet all review deadlines
Volunteer Qualifications
A mix of qualified professionals from across the field who can fairly and knowledgeably evaluate proposals in their area, including:
Treatment / clinical
Prevention / public health
Responsible gambling
Recovery / lived experience
Research
Advocacy / policy
Tribal
Sports / emerging markets
Other (specify below)
Please note: Reviewers do not need to be senior leaders. They need relevant expertise and the ability to review fairly and on time.
Service Period
Reviewers are recruited in September 2026 and complete self-guided training in October 2026. The concentrated review runs from November through December 2026, with final recommendations completed in January 2027.
Time Commitment
Self-paced reviewer training plus review of up to approximately 25 assigned proposals during the review window. Most of the work is concentrated over roughly six to eight weeks.
Eligibility
Open to current NCPG members only.
What You Will Gain
A direct role in shaping a high-quality, evidence-based program
Discounted conference registration
Recognition as an NCPG conference reviewer
Early insight into emerging work across the field
Eligibility, Selection & Timeline
Membership Requirement
These opportunities are open to current NCPG members only. If your membership has lapsed, or you are not yet a member, please renew or join at NCPGambling.org/membership/ before applying.
Selection
Applications are reviewed by NCPG staff. Conference Program Workgroup selection is competitive, and members will be identified based on the selection criteria. Conference Peer Review Panel selection considers relevant expertise and the ability to review fairly and meet deadlines. All applicants are notified of decisions by email.
Individuals who express their interest in volunteering onsite will be contacted with details at a later date.
Recruitment Timeline
Opportunity | Key Dates |
Conference Program Workgroup |
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Conference Peer Review Panel |
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