10-Nov-08. Alberta gamers ante up $26B. Calgary Herald, A1.

A new study examining the gambling habits of Albertans suggests that there has been a decline in the percentages of both gamblers and problem gamblers. Alberta Gaming Research Institute research coordinator Robert Williams warned these problem players are, however, responsible for a growing proporation of the province’s gaming revenues. The Institute’s findings, to be published later in a report, come from a phone survey of 7,500 adult Albertans across the province, between June and August this year, that queried people on their gambling habits.

20-Jul-08. Public cool to new arena. Edmonton Journal, A1.

A new public opinion study indicates that a plebiscite over using civic funds to build a new downtown arena in Edmonton would fail if it were held right now. The study was co-authored by University of Alberta sports business professor Dan Mason and conducted in late 2007 and early 2008. The study interviewed more than 900 Albertans from both Calgary and Edmonton and was funded by the Alberta Gaming Research Institute.

20-Jun-08. New casino opens amid study on addictions. Calgary Herald, A1.

Dr. Robert Williams and colleagues from the universities of Lethbridge and Alberta began a phone survey of 8,000 Albertans on Wednesday to determine the prevalence of problem gambling. The two-month study is part of a bigger $685,000, two-year socio-economic study on the costs and benefits of gaming in the province. With the broader socio-economic study, Williams hopes to provide the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission with a detailed report outlining the social costs versus the economic benefits of gambling. The province’s portion of gaming and lottery revenue for the 2007-08 fiscal year was $1.5-billion.

31-Mar-07. Gambling experts succumb. Calgary Herald, B2.

This article reports on a two-day conference on gambling-related harm that has attracted more than 100 experts on gambling addictions. The conference is being hosted by the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, a collaboration of the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge. A five-year institute-funded longitudinal study, one of the most thorough undertaken anywhere, is currently following a group of 1,800 Alberta gamblers.

21-Feb-07. Internet wagering may be key to sports gambling’s future. Edmonton Journal, C1.

This article gathers opinions from gambling researchers, industry insiders and government officials on the future directions of online sports gambling. Michael Lipton, a Montreal lawyer and member of the International Masters of Gaming Law says that Internet gambling has reached the point where it should be regulated. Robert Williams, a research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, predicts interactive gambling and peer-to-peer betting exchanges will soon be the newest Internet craze.

19-Feb-07. Government addicted to gambling profits. Edmonton Journal, C6.

Seventeen years after Alberta and other provincial governments began offering sports betting with the creation of the Sports Select lottery, these same governments now appear to be addicted to the huge profits generated from this activity. Garry Smith, a professor with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute at the University of Alberta, says governments tend to overemphasize the economic benefits and downplay the social problems gambling creates because they are so dependent on gambling revenues. In Alberta, sports and non-sports lottery profits are directed to the Alberta Lottery Fund, and from their given to worthy volunteer, non-profit, public and community-based projects throughout the province. Smith believes that governments should remove themselves from direct involvement with gambling so that they are better able to make impartial, objective decisions about gambling.

9-Feb-07. Wild West for online gamblers. Edmonton Journal, A9.

Robert Williams, a health sciences professor at the University of Lethbridge and research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, says research suggests that two per cent of Canadians participate in online gambling. Provincial gaming regulators in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada already offer lotteries, keno, and sports betting opportunities which are resticted to residents of those provinces. Online gambling is considered more addictive than conventional gambling because of the speed of play and the fact that players are isolated.

29-Jan-07. It’s fun… to win! Calgary Sun, B6.

This article notes that there have been few research studies related to fantasy sports in comparison to other forms of gambling. A recent study by Dr. Bo Bernhard, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas reported that there can be some positive social networking aspects associated with the activity. Garry Smith, a gambling research specialist at the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, notes that the skill element of sports betting seems to mean that people are less likely to become addicted to that form of gambling.

15-Dec-06. Lotto 6/49 turns 25 as folks scratch, quick pick and roll up the rim. Red Deer Advocate, B5.

This article provides a summary of Canadians’ gambling-related activities and behaviours. David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary says that the attitudes of Canadians have shifted over the past 25 to 30 years. Many forms of gambling were considered immoral or illegal but now it is not only legal but actively promoted by provincial governments. Garry Smith of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute was troubled by a recent survey that suggests 20 per cent of respondents count on the lottery as part of their retirement planning.

21-Nov-06. Gambling addiction off radar. Edmonton Sun, 11.

The author of this column notes that gambling has become less of a contentious issue in Alberta but that the effects of problem gambling on individuals remain high. Robert Williams of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute has found that the total number of gaming machines per capita in a jurisdiction is one of the best predictors of problem gambling prevalence.