Gambling Research Reveals - Summer 2012

7/31/2019 Gambling Research Reveals - Summer 2012

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Researchers, policy makers, and health careprofessionals from around the world convenedat the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta from April 11th

to 14th for the Institutes annual conference ongambling research. The conference theme wasThe Causes of Problem Gambling. Additionally,two pre-conference events were available toattendees. The rst was a peer review workshop ledby the editors of the International Gambling Studies(IGS) journal. A second featured a seriesof speakers who discussed research investigationson the topic ofGambling and Problem Gamblingwith Indigenous Populations.

Indigenous Gambling Pre-Conference

Workshop (CCGR)The indigenous gambling pre-conference

workshop at the Institutes 2012 conferencewas sponsored by the Canadian Consortium forGambling Research (CCGR). It brought togethera group of 30+ researchers, practitioners, andgraduate students who discussed methodologies,approaches and challenges in conducting gamblingresearch with indigenous populations. The daysobjectives were to determine research gaps anddirections for future research, provide networking

opportunities, and identify funding and potential

and future collaborative possibilities.

The rst presenter was Dr.Yale Belanger from

the University of Lethbridge who provided aHistory of Gambling Research with Indigenous

Populations. Based on his comprehensivereview of the indigenous gambling literature,Belanger commented that, Obviouslytheres an interest [in indigenous gamblingresearch] but it is a sporadic interest. Hefelt that the eld would benet signicantlyfrom a greater depth of research inquiryand recommended continued focus inareas such as sovereignty, communitydevelopment, economic development,and health.

Dr. Joseph Tindale, Dr. Joan Norris,ric Thriault, Lisa Pigeau and YvonAllard presented material entitledThe Challenges of Qualitative

Research with Indigenous

Populations. Their researchinvestigation involved a researchpartnership established with theMtis Nation in Ontario. Muchof their discussion related tohow an effective researchbond was established

between the academicresearchers and theircommunity researchpartners. This ongoingprocess of trust-buildingwas singled out asbeing the factor thatmost signicantlyimproved uponthe teamsoriginal researchmethodology.

The primary aim of

the Alberta Gambling

Research Institute,

a consortium of the

Universities of Alberta,

Calgary, and Lethbridge,is to support academic

research related to gambling.

MISSION

To facilitate evidence-based

broad research that informs

gambling public policy and

educates Albertans and the wider

audience about the effects

of gambling.

Summer 2012

11TH Annual Conference and Pre-Conference Workshops


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Alberta Gambling Research Institute Gambling Research Reveals Summer 2012 2

In her presentation about theChallenges of QuantitativeResearch with Indigenous

Populations, Dr. Cheryl Curriefrom the University of Lethbridge

explained that standard researchmethods have not worked well in this

population. Currie illustrated how sheovercame this challenge using several informativeexamples from her investigations of urban aboriginalpopulations in Edmonton, Alberta. Currie stronglyrecommended that, Before you begin the study,[establish relationships] with the aboriginal

community itself.Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill ofMcMaster Universitypresented on the topicEthics within an Indigenous

Knowledge Methodology.Martin-Hill explained thatone of her main interests wasthe process of building trust within the indigenouscommunity. She provided poignant examples fromher own experiences about the inuence of gender,elders, insiders, and ways-of-knowing among

indigenous peoples.In his presentation entitled, Who Owns the Researchand Results / What Must be Done with the Research,Dr. Darrel Manitowabi of the University of Sudburydiscussed both the ofcial research and theunofcial body of knowledge that he developedwhile completing Ph.D. research on Casino Ramain Orillia, Ontario. He noted that the success ofhis investigation was hinged upon developing acollaboration of needs. This eventually resulted in asuccessful blending of his research project with thecreation of a local heritage project and museum forthe local community.

Dr. Helen Breen from SouthernCross University in Australiapresented information aboutthe higher levels of risks facedby indigenous populations in thepresentation Where To Go Nextwith Gambling Research with

Indigenous Populations. Gaps inthe research were also highlighted

which she felt represented important areas for futureinvestigation.

Judith Glynn fromthe Ontario ProblemGambling ResearchInstitute (OPGRC)provided a ttingend to the day inher synthesis ofthemes she hadidentied fromeach of the workshop presentations. In ResearchPriorities for Indigenous Research in Canada, Glynnskillfully wove together these themes and charted acourse for possible next phases of research related

to gambling and indigenous populations. Her morecomplete synopsis is to be posted on the CCGRwebsite - http://www.gamblingresearch.org/ccgr/.

AGRI Conference 2012:Summaries of SelectedPresentations

The Availability of Gambling andProblem Gambling Rates: Assessing

the Relationship Dr. Rachel Volberg, Gemini Research

[Northampton, Massachusetts, USA]

Dr. Volberg presentedndings from her detailedexamination of gamblingprevalence studies fromjurisdictions worldwide. Inundertaking this investigation,Volberg was seeking to furtheruntangle the complex relationship

between exposure and harm aswell as whether individuals and/or communities adapt to gamblingavailability over time. Volbergsmethodology involved developinga comprehensive compilation of 200+ studies thathad included a jurisdiction-wide adult prevalencesurvey. Next, she standardized prevalence ratesfrom individual studies to facilitate comparison ofrates between jurisdictions and within the samejurisdictions over time. This allowed her to thenanalyze changes in standardized problem gambling(PG) prevalence rates over time.


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Findings from the study indicated that PG ratesstarted increasing in North America and Australiaduring the late 1980s/early 1990s and peakedroughly ten years later. This particular period wascoincident with rapid introduction and expansionof EGMs and casinos. Since the late 1990s in NorthAmerica and early 2000s elsewhere, there has beena general downward trend in PG rates. Conclusionsfrom Volbergs research provided support for therebeing both exposure and adaptation inuences onproblem gambling rates. She found that increasedgambling availability is related to increased PG butthat populations appear to adapt over time.

Cross-Jurisdictional Correlatesof Problem Gambling Dr. Rob Williams, University of Lethbridge

[Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada]

Dr. Rob Williams began his presentation onthe correlates of problem gambling by remindingattendees that what are considered knowncorrelates come mainly from academic researchconducted in Western countries on clinicalpopulations. According to Williams, Theyre alluseful information but not necessarily representativeof worldwide PG correlates but the purpose of thisresearch is to identify the robust cross-jurisdictionalcorrelates.

The process of collecting existing PG correlate-related data involved reviewing 202 jurisdiction-wide adult prevalence studies of problem gambling

from 1975 to 2012. The data was extracted andput into tables for comparative purposes. Usingthis data, Williams determined that the mostcommonly identied correlates were those relatedto demographics and game types. Interestingly,Williams said, Looking at the rough number ofstudies, EGM [correlates] are not as prominent asone might think.

Williams indicated that the most consistent correlate-related nding from these individual studies wasthat of gender (being male is a signicant correlateof problem gambling; no single study ever foundfemales to have higher correlate of gambling vs.

males). Other correlates mentioned included age(


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the country is primarily urban, relatively poor andexhibits a high level of income inequality. Particularforms of gambling (e.g., fa) popular in some partsof South Africa are seemingly unique and involvebetting on the interpretationof dreams.

The rst study described by Ross was a prevalencestudy (NUPSGB) that had been conducted in 2008.It drew a true random sample from within severalmetropolitan centres and participants completedtwo gambling screens (one was GA-20 for historicalcomparative reasons and the other was based onPGSI). Problem gambling prevalence was found

to be comparable to rates from other countries. Itwas, however, far higher (5-6%) in residential areasfor mineworkers (overwhelmingly males who playillegal card/dice games in illegal bars). In fact,The effect of living in these areas was so strong itswamped all other factors, said Ross.

The second study discussed was the NLSGBlongitudinal study that sampled 300 gamblersevery three months over a period of 15 months (6visits in total). In addition to questions related todemographics and psychological screening tools,Ross explained that the eldworkers also performed

a series of lottery choice and time preferenceexperiments1. Lastly, the nal two waves of thestudy also included a diary intervention. This wasdone to test whether people who monitored andreported their gambling behaviour on a weeklybasis would be signicantly different on measuresof gambling behaviour and risk severity atfollow-up to those who were not contacted.

Findings from the longitudinal study indicatedthat nearly 60% of individuals visited the high riskcategory at least once over the sampling times.According to Ross, this shows the instability of PG

risk severity classication over the short intervalsof the study. Other interesting preliminary studyndings involved co-occurring conditions. At Wave1, there was a signicant correlation between PGand depression, PG and anxiety, PG and alcohol, andPG and impulsivity. In concluding, Ross stating that,Anxiety is a strong predictor which means anxietyis changing with PGSI from wave to wave. Anxietyscores are changing with the gambling scores. Thesame with impulsivity.

1 Ultimately the experiments were ruined by

eldworker fraud.

Winning: Why do Some DevelopGambling Problems While Othersdo Not? Dr. Nigel Turner, Centre for Addiction and

Mental Health [Toronto, Ontario, Canada]

In his presentation, Dr. Turner focused ongambling behaviour of individuals who hadexperienced early wins in their gambling careers.He stated, The fact is that gamblers do win andthe more they play the more they are likely to win

but their losses will accumulate over time. Turnerexplained that one of his ongoing research interestshas been the determination of how inuential a bigwin can be in the establishment of a gambling habitor problem.

Turner provided an overview of his initial winnersstudy which involved interviewing active gamblersand asking them about the size of their rst bigwin, what to them constituted a big win/loss, whenthey rst identied with having a problem withgambling, and other associations related to problem

gambling. Research ndings were that an individualsconcept of a loss was actually smaller than thatof a win (as people tended to be risk averse), thatgambling problems had highest associations (52%)with opening of a new gaming venue, and that theeffect of an early win only occurred with a quarter ofparticipants.

Turner replicated this study with another in thegeneral population (pathways study) as well asone with an incarcerated population of males. In thepathways study, results indicated only a minor


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relationship between having a win and developinga gambling problem. Wins were identied as beingan important factor in developing problems but werenot as important as others like emotional issues.A signicant early gambling win was a key variablereported by problem gamblers in the offender studybut one that only explained about a quarter of thosecases.

Turner next discussed the concepts of reinforcementand volatility that he considered to be two morecritical factors that further inuence gamblingbehaviour. He indicated that wins act as gamblingbehaviour reinforcement. These wins are generally

intermittent -- EGM wins especially -- and researchhas shown this type of reinforcement as beingparticularly resistant to extinction. In talking aboutvolatility (i.e., a measure of outcome variance),Turner explained that it serves to hide the house edgefrom gamblers. In the short term, players experiencethe thrill of the win, and in the long term the industryis guaranteed to make a prot from their machines.In concluding, Turner felt that wins were an importantfactor in the development of problem gambling asthey serve to shape expectations, but alone they donot necessarily lead to severe problems.

Pacic Islands LongitudinalFamilies (PIF) Study Dr. Max Abbott, Auckland University of Technology

[New Zealand]

In his conference address, Dr. Abbott explainedthat prospective studies require samples ofthousands of individuals to get meaningful resultssince gambling problems are quite rare in thepopulation. Such studies can also be prohibitivelyexpensive. Though costly, Abbott said, A focus onlongitudinal studies is something that [he] and Dr.Rachel Volberg have been advocating for the past 20years to see the development of them is excitingand now we are beginning to be able to make cross-national comparisons.

Abbotts most recent research involvement hasbeen with a team of investigators involved in NewZealands Pacic Islands Longitudinal Families (PIF)study. Pacic peoples (mainly Polynesian) make upabout 8% of the population of New Zealand. The$10-M PIF study followed 1,398 children of Pacicethnicity born in a South Auckland hospital during

a single calendar year (Year 2000). Both mothers andfathers were also part of the study that Abbott saidwas notable because fathers are rarely included inthese studies.

The PIF study included a wide range of metricspertaining to health and development. Data was

mainly collected through structured interviews.Gambling questions were included in supplementarystudies at child ages 6 and 9 years and includedparental gambling behaviour. Results from thesestudies have made it possible for investigators toidentify several potential problem gambling risk andprotective factors. These ndings have been reportedin 4 to 5 gambling-related journal articles of the 40-50that have been published to date as a result of the PIFstudy.

Project challenges described by Abbott related toparticipant retention, funding, inter-university rivalryand concerns about studying a non-Maori group.

Despite these hurdles, the holistic study has beenable to further our understanding of the impacts ofgambling on both the family and child. Future plansinclude following the children to see how gamblingbehaviours change over time and how they areassociated with parental gambling and other familial,social, health and environmental factors.

Powerpoint presentations from all conference

presenters are available online at:

http://www.abgamblinginstitute.ualberta.ca/

Events/2012Conference/ConferenceProgram2012.aspx.


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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Seamus OShea, Chair,

External Member

Dr. Lesley Brown,

University of Lethbridge

Dr. Keith Dobson,

University of Calgary

Alexander (Sandy) Dougall,

External Member

Dr. Nady el-Guebaly,


Dr. Linda Trimble,University of Alberta

Dr. Douglas West,

University of Alberta

Dr. Robert Wood,


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vickii Williams

Email:

[email protected]

RESEARCH COORDINATORS

University of Alberta

Dr. Garry Smith

Email: [email protected]


Dr. David Hodgins



Dr. Rob Williams


INSTITUTE LIBRARIANS

Rhys Stevens


Maxine Tedesco


Please forward any comments

or inquiries to:

Email:[email protected]

Phone: 780-492-2856

Rhys Stevens

Sally GainsburyWriters

Maxine TedescoColette FreitasVickii Williams

Editors

North Design Group

Design/Layout

Media InquiriesPh. 780-492-2856

*The Institute is funded by theAlberta government.

ISSN: 1911-8724 (Online)

AGRI 2012

International Gambling Studies

Workshop, April 11, 2012Written by: Sally Gainsbury

The International Gambling Studiesworkshop was designed to enhance peer-reviewskills for researchers at all levels of expertiseand experience but particularly for early andmid-career researchers. This workshop wassupported by the Ontario Problem GamblingResearch Centre and the Canadian Consortiumof Gambling Research. Approximately 15participants attended the workshop, including

early career researchers, as well as mid-careerand senior researchers, and members ofresearch institutes. Delegates were exposedto a detailed exposition of how to effectivelyreview a manuscript submitted for publicationfrom experts in the eld, Alex Blaszczynskiand Sally Gainsbury, Editors of InternationalGambling Studies, and Michael Wohl fromCarleton University. The workshop coveredsuch material as the role and function of editorsand reviewers, what readers appreciatedin published articles, and how to go aboutcritically evaluating literature reviews, research

design and methodologies, and conclusionsdrawn. Not overlooked was the importance offollowing Journal instructions in formatting andreferencing.

Peer review is a cooperative process thatallows research to be evaluated by independentexperts working within the same academiceld. Peer review is designed to detect awsin methodology and interpretation of ndings.The purpose is to assist authors to improve theoverall quality of manuscripts through objectivefeedback, and to guide editors in assessinga manuscripts suitability for publication.Understanding the review process and whatreviewers are evaluating when assessingmanuscripts greatly improves ones own capacityto prepare a manuscript and the chances ofacceptance with minimal revisions. These skillsare also highly relevant to writing and evaluatinggrant applications and research proposals.

Feedback after the workshop indicated thatdelegates were very satised with the workshop,that it met their expectations and was highlyuseful in their ongoing work as authors andreviewers.

ALBERTA GAMBLING RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Documents

Gambling Research Reveals - Summer 2012