WASHINGTON – Global Gaming Women (GGW) today announced the launch of the GGW Education Fund, a new scholarship program aimed at providing education opportunities for women in gaming. In 2013, the fund is offering the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s (UNLV) International Gaming Institute (IGI) Continuing Education Scholarship, which has the goal of advancing women in the industry through continuing education.

“GGW is committed to helping women in gaming advance their careers, so we are pleased to be offering this one-of-a-kind opportunity with UNLV and IGI,” said Virginia McDowell, president and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. and GGW co-chair. “I strongly encourage any women who want to expand their knowledge or impact on our industry to apply today.”

The GGW Education Fund is accepting applications now through Saturday, June 8. Award recipients will be selected by the GGW scholarship committee and notified on or before July 9.

“UNLV and the International Gaming Institute are very proud of our program and the opportunities created by this new Continuing Education Scholarship,” said Nakia Jackson-Hale, director of programs at IGI and a member of the GGW scholarship committee. “We are thrilled to partner with GGW and provide yet another way to enhance the careers of more women in the industry.”

Applicants are required to have a minimum of three years of work experience in any field within the private- or public-sector gaming industry. The availability of online courses means women from throughout the international gaming community are eligible. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, books and fees for attending seminars or classes offered both in-person and online through IGI and UNLV, including either undergraduate or graduate level courses.

Eligible classes must take place during 2013 and focuses on a resort- or casino-related subject matter.

For more information, including details on applicant requirements, fees covered by the scholarship and available course listings, or to download and submit an application, visit http://www.globalgamingwomen.org/education/scholarships [2].

GGW was launched in September 2011 by the AGA to nurture female leaders in the international gaming industry. The initiative is an ongoing effort to foster stronger relationships between top female executives, as well as between executives and promising managers in the industry. More information on GGW can be found at GlobalGamingWomen.org [3]. For all the latest AGA and industry news, visit www.americangaming.org [4], follow the AGA on Twitter [5] and “like” us on Facebook [6].

###

The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the national trade association for the commercial casino industry. In addition to representing the interests of its members on federal legislative and regulatory issues, the AGA serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

The UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI) was founded in 1993 to serve an educational hub for the global gaming industry. Today, the IGI is widely regarded as the premier source of educational programming for the international gaming industry, with program graduates who lead businesses and organizations in over 50 different jurisdictions.