2024/25 Stakeholder Research Priorities
Research activity by stakeholder priority:
- Public Policy and Safe Gambling Strategy
- Description: Several public policy and regulatory issues have been identified and research advice sought by regulators, policy makers, and treatment providers. In some instances, consideration is being given to evaluation of existing policies and programs, in others, research advice is solicited prior to the implementation of new ones. Within public policy, the promotion of responsible gambling represents preventing problem gambling from developing and providing the right supports to people who are addicted to gambling in order that they can begin their recovery. Safe gambling research and strategies will address the aforementioned.
- Description: Several public policy and regulatory issues have been identified and research advice sought by regulators, policy makers, and treatment providers. In some instances, consideration is being given to evaluation of existing policies and programs, in others, research advice is solicited prior to the implementation of new ones. Within public policy, the promotion of responsible gambling represents preventing problem gambling from developing and providing the right supports to people who are addicted to gambling in order that they can begin their recovery. Safe gambling research and strategies will address the aforementioned.
- Indigenous/First Nations Gambling
- Description: A continuing priority is the need for further, including comparative, research into gambling behaviours and industry involvement of First Nations and other Indigenous populations. Continuing discussions with stakeholders point out that it is very important to build trust and involve Indigenous populations in research in/on their communities.
- Description: A continuing priority is the need for further, including comparative, research into gambling behaviours and industry involvement of First Nations and other Indigenous populations. Continuing discussions with stakeholders point out that it is very important to build trust and involve Indigenous populations in research in/on their communities.
- Longitudinal Research
- Description: Gambling is a common activity in the Alberta population, with 66.9% of the adult population having gambled (calculated in the last prevalence study done in 2018). Although the large majority of Albertans gamble responsibly, there is a small percentage that experience significant problems. The design of effective educational and legislative strategies to minimize the harm caused by gambling hinges on understanding the factors that promote responsible gambling and/or make people susceptible to problem gambling. Longitudinal studies are the optimal methodology for investigating such questions. This methodology has been used extensively and successfully in the fields of health, mental health, sociology and addiction and it provided the impetus to assemble an Alberta research team to undertake such a study.
- Description: Gambling is a common activity in the Alberta population, with 66.9% of the adult population having gambled (calculated in the last prevalence study done in 2018). Although the large majority of Albertans gamble responsibly, there is a small percentage that experience significant problems. The design of effective educational and legislative strategies to minimize the harm caused by gambling hinges on understanding the factors that promote responsible gambling and/or make people susceptible to problem gambling. Longitudinal studies are the optimal methodology for investigating such questions. This methodology has been used extensively and successfully in the fields of health, mental health, sociology and addiction and it provided the impetus to assemble an Alberta research team to undertake such a study.
- Internet/Remote Gambling
- Description: The pervasiveness of this gambling format has accelerated it to the forefront of research demand. Some research has been completed, and much more is underway. Some factors that are important to consider are the rapidly changing technologies, the accessibility of gambling devices and varied jurisdictional issues.
- Description: The pervasiveness of this gambling format has accelerated it to the forefront of research demand. Some research has been completed, and much more is underway. Some factors that are important to consider are the rapidly changing technologies, the accessibility of gambling devices and varied jurisdictional issues.
- Treatment including the effect of stigma
- Description: The stakeholder constituency of treatment providers as well as researchers identified the need for concise, readily available guidelines for professionals in their treatment of problem gamblers. Stigma has been highlighted as an area, which effects treatment. The correlation between stigma and reducing the likelihood of seeking treatment deserves focused research to eliminate the stigma barrier people face in accessing treatment.
- Description: The stakeholder constituency of treatment providers as well as researchers identified the need for concise, readily available guidelines for professionals in their treatment of problem gamblers. Stigma has been highlighted as an area, which effects treatment. The correlation between stigma and reducing the likelihood of seeking treatment deserves focused research to eliminate the stigma barrier people face in accessing treatment.
- Socio-economic / Economics
- Description: The relationship between social behaviour and economics has been recognized as a priority by stakeholders. Growing literature has recognized the importance of academic research on those who win or lose from gambling activities with research documenting wins from gambling has both positive as well as negative outcomes for both the individual, as well as society. Economic gambling research studies the actions of human beings, governments and nations on how they allocate resources in seeking the most optimal level of benefit or utility.
- Description: The relationship between social behaviour and economics has been recognized as a priority by stakeholders. Growing literature has recognized the importance of academic research on those who win or lose from gambling activities with research documenting wins from gambling has both positive as well as negative outcomes for both the individual, as well as society. Economic gambling research studies the actions of human beings, governments and nations on how they allocate resources in seeking the most optimal level of benefit or utility.
Source: Stakeholder Priority Action Plan 2026-2028 (2025, January)