During the 1990’s and prior to the establishment
The Institute Library is established
of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, at the University of Lethbridge with
a handful of university-based faculty members
were undertaking gambling research in Alberta.
These gambling research pioneers were
primarily affiliated with either the Department of
Government Studies in the Faculty of Extension
at the University of Alberta or at the Addiction
Centre in the Faculty of Medicine at the University
of Calgary.
In 1998, as video lottery terminals (VLTs) were
emerging as a flash point of political controversy
within the province of Alberta, it was recognized
that gambling researchers could play a critical
role in furthering society’s understanding of this
important issue. In response to public interest,
the Faculty of Extension sponsored a conference
(February) in Edmonton that focused on VLTs and
electronic gambling. In April, the Alberta Lottery
and Gaming Summit took place in Medicine
Hat which resulted in a report (July) containing
a number of recommendations, including that
the Alberta Government support independent
research into gambling and its social effects.
In 1999, Alberta’s provincial government of Extension.
accepted the recommendations of the Gaming
Summit and agreed to fund a university-based
research institute which came to be known University of Lethbridge.
as the Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
Vision
An Institute that is internationally recognized for
its contribution to the scientific knowledge base
in gambling research.
Mission
To significantly improve Albertans’ knowledge
of how gambling affects society.
Core Purposes
The focus of the Institute is to facilitate and
support excellent academic research that guides
the development of effective public policy and
contributes to developing the depth and breadth
of scientific knowledge in four broad domains
(bio-psychological, socio-cultural, economics,
and industry and public policy).
•
• In partnership with the
University of Lethbridge,
Mr. Rhys Stevens as Librarian. the Institute holds the Second
• The Institute website is established
Annual Alberta Conference
on Gambling Research:
• Three Alberta universities—the University of
and hosted from the University
of Alberta.
• The Institute The Prevention of Problem
Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University Organizing Gambling.
Agreement
of Lethbridge—submit a joint response to the
government’s proposal to support independent
• The Institute is signed by the • The Institute implements
undertakes literature three partner the Small Grants Program
research into the social effects of gambling.
reviews in each universities to as a means of attracting new
• Dr. Bill McBlain, Associate Vice-President, Research of its four research
establish the researchers to gambling-
serves as Acting Chair of the universities’ negotiating/ domains. related studies.
Institute as an
planning committee.
• Results of the literature unincorporated
• In Calgary, on November 26, 1999, the government reviews were consortium.
and the three partner universities sign an agreement presented at symposia
founding the Alberta Gaming Research Institute. at the University • The Institute establishes its bimonthly • Co-sponsored with the University of Alberta,
of Alberta and the newsletter Research Reveals…an update the Institute holds the First Annual Alberta
• The Institute, a tri-university consortium, is funded University of Calgary. on gambling research in Alberta. Conference on Gambling Research:
by the Alberta Government, initially for a three-year
period, subject to renewal. • Ms. Vickii Williams • Dr. David Hodgins, Department of Crime and Gambling.
• Dr. Keith Archer of the University of Calgary is chosen
is appointed as Executive Director. Psychology, is appointed Node Coordinator • A second three-year Institute funding arrangement
at the University of Calgary.
as first Institute Board Chair. • Dr. Garry Smith, Gambling Research
is signed.
• The Institute’s administrative ‘hub’ is initially located
Specialist, Faculty of Extension, is • Dr. Rob Williams, School of Health Sciences,
appointed Node Coordinator at the is appointed Node Coordinator (replacing Dr. Gary
at the University of Alberta, within the Faculty Nixon) at the University of Lethbridge.
University of Alberta.
• The Alberta Gaming Research Council is established
• Dr. Gary Nixon, School of Health Sciences, • Dr. Garry Smith
is appointed Node Coordinator at the is identified as the
to communicate the gambling-related research
Institute’s Media
priorities of various constituencies
Contact.
to the Institute’s Board. • The Institute issues its first annual call
Mrs. Sheila Murphy for research proposals.
is appointed Chair.
• Dr. Nady el-Guebaly of the
University of Calgary is elected
second Chair of the Board.
Supporting and promoting
research into gaming and
gambling in Alberta
To date, the Alberta Gaming Research
Institute has funded:
• Major Research Grants (53)
• “Small” Research Grants (23)
• Collaborative / Strategic Research Grants (8)
• Doctoral and Graduate Scholarships (8)
Research grants have resulted in the
following scholarly publications:
• Refereed Journal Articles (82)
• Books and Book Chapters (11)
• Technical Reports (19)
• Published Conference Proceedings (12)
• Comprehensive Literature Reviews (6)
Promotion of gambling research has
been accomplished in various ways:
• Hosting an annual conference on gambling
research (9 conferences; 1,000+ attendees)
• Institute’s Gambling Research Reveals
e-newsletter (50 issues)
• Website that attracts 2,500+ visitors / month
• Digitized repository of historical gambling
publications (360+ items)
Alberta Gaming Research Institute
HUB Mall, 8909S - 112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2C5
www.abgaminginstitute.ualberta.ca
• The Institute hosts the Third Annual Alberta
Conference on Gambling Research: Treatment
of Problem Gambling at the Banff Centre,
co-sponsored with the University of Calgary.
• To enhance public access and increase visibility,
the Institute’s administrative office is relocated Organization of Responsible Gambling in Spain.
to HUB Mall at the University of Alberta.
• The Institute hosts three public poster exhibitions
of Institute-sponsored research at the University
of Alberta, University of Lethbridge and University
of Calgary.
• The Institute website is redesigned and relaunched.
• A new funding program devoted to Strategic
Partnership and Collaborative Research Grants
is introduced to address Board identified priorities.
• A comprehensive external review of the Institute • The Institute hosts the Sixth Annual Alberta Conference • The Institute hosts • The Institute hosts the Eighth Annual Alberta
takes place as a means of evaluating the quality on Gambling Research: Addressing Gambling-Related the Seventh Annual Conference on Gambling Research: Internet
of its research programs. Harm through Evidence-Based Practices, Alberta Conference Gambling, in partnership with the University
• The Institute hosts the Fourth Annual Alberta
in partnership with the University of Calgary. on Gambling of Lethbridge.
Conference on Gambling Research: Public Policy • The Second Institute Stakeholder Meeting is held
Research:
Gambling
• The Alberta Gaming Research Institute’s Fourth
Implications of Gambling Research, in partnership at the Banff Centre. Stakeholder Meeting is held at the Banff Centre.
in Society:
with the University of Alberta.
• Dr. Brad Humphreys is appointed as Chair in the A Question • In conjunction with Conference 2009, an award
• A longitudinal study, the Leisure, Lifestyle, Lifecycle • The Institute hosts Economics of Gaming at the University of Alberta. of Balance, in for best research poster is initiated.
partnership with
Project (LLLP), is initiated to examine the gambling
behaviour of 2000 Albertans from five age cohorts
the Fifth Annual
Alberta Conference on
The position is jointly funded by the Institute and the
University of Alberta Faculty of Arts. the University
over a five-year period. Gambling Research:
• The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling
of Alberta.
• Inaugural Institute Stakeholder Meeting is held
Social and Economic
Costs and Benefits
in Alberta (SEIGA) study is commissioned. • The Third Institute
Stakeholder
to develop and identify common research priorities
of Gambling, in • An associated, supplementary study of the Leisure,
Meeting is held at
and deliverables.
partnership with the Lifestyle, Lifecycle Project is funded to investigate
• Mrs. Sheila Murphy, Chair of the Alberta Gaming University of Lethbridge. potential genetic aspects of gambling and disordered
the Banff Centre.
Research Council, and Dr. Nady el-Guebaly,
• gambling. • Preliminary findings from the Leisure, Lifestyle,
Institute representatives invited to participate and
Lifecycle Project are made available in journal
Chair of
the Alberta
present at the International Think Tank on Presenting • The reference
articles and conference presentations. The second
Gambling Populations (Lake Tahoe), First Contact Services handbook Research
of four planned data collection survey waves
Gaming
Research
(New Zealand), Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation, and and Measurement
is completed.
Issues in Gambling
Institute Board,
awarded • A five-year Institute funding agreement, effective April 1,
Studies is published • Graduate student research allowance and
by Elsevier. It is co- scholarship programs are initiated
Alberta 2006, is signed.
edited by Institute to accelerate the development
Centennial
medals.
• The functions of the Alberta Gaming Research Council are Node Coordinators of high quality gambling research
capacity in Alberta’s universities.
replaced with a requirement to hold annual stakeholder
meetings for the term of the agreement.
Dr. Garry Smith,
Dr. David Hodgins
• and Dr. Rob Williams.
Mrs. Sheila Murphy is appointed to Institute Board
as an external member.
• The Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling
in Alberta (SEIGA) study is officially launched and
the initial phases of the investigation is completed.