18-Jun-09. Rodent research: Life in the rat race leads to gambling. National Post,

University of British Columbia behavioural neuroscientist Catharine Winstanley’s research on “gambling” by rats may prove instrumental in curing high-risk gambling addictions in humans. For the study, rats had to play against the clock in choosing between four gambling options to win different numbers of sugar pellets. Dr. Winstanley called the study an important first step in offering clues into what neurotransmitters or what brain chemicals are involved in regulating gambling behaviour.

31-Jul-07. Bingo thief blames gambling addiction. Edmonton Journal, B3.

The manager of a Sherwood Park bingo hall is blaming her gambling loss of thousands of charity dollars on an addiction to slot machines.  Lisa Ann Heidebrecht was caught after embezzling nearly $190,000 from teh Riviera Bingo Association, and has pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000.  She has apologized to the charitable association, but has refused counselling.

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.

3-Mar-07. VLT addiction leads the way in region. Lethbridge Herald, A2.

The South Country Treatment Centre in Lethbridge has been helping problem gamblers for a decade. Addictions counsellors at South Country say that about 66 per cent of those admitted to the facility for problem gambling are addicted to VLTs.

3-Mar-07. Deadly gamble. Lethbridge Herald, A1.

This article profiles the suicide of a Lethbridge woman who was a problem gambler. Rebecca Schafer died hours after losing $1,000 gambling on a video lottery terminal (VLT) at a local bar she frequented. Her brother Harlan Ruud believes that her gambling addiction and other problems in her life were what caused her to commit suicide.

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.

22-Nov-06. Gamblers get help through South Country. Lethbridge Herald, A4.

The South Country Treatment Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta was launched a decade ago and remains the only residential program for gambling addicts in the southern half of the province. Though gambling problems may affect a significant number of individuals, waiting lists for the three-week gambling program are short. South Country operates a 21-bed facility near the Lethbridge Research Centre, under contract with the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC).

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.

17-Oct-06. Absolute insanity. Calgary Herald, F1.

This detailed article profiles a sports gambler named Gary who is currently seeking treatment for his gambling-related problems. Gary discusses his all-consuming passion for sports wagering and relates the various ways that it has affected his life over the past fifteen years.

20-Aug-06. The lure of addiction. Calgary Herald, B1.

This in-depth article describes the experiences of a Calgary woman whose husband committed suicide after struggling with pathological gambling and depression. More than 1.2-million Canadians exhibit at least one symptom of problem gambling, with more than 20 suicides attributed to gambling each year. David Hodgins, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, says about one per cent of Albertans are pathological gamblers.