2019/2020
Major Grants
A Cross-National Investigation of the Convergence of Gambling and Gaming (#88)
Project Approved 2019-20
Dr. David C Hodgins (Co-Principal Investigator)
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
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Dr. Zsolt Demetrovics (Co-Investigator)
Department of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University Institute of Psychology [Hungary]
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Mr. Hyoun S. Kim (Co-Principal investigator)
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
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Dr. Hermano Tavares (Co-lnvestigator)
Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo [Brazil]
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Dr. Sherry Stewart (Co-Investigator)
Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Dalhousie University
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Dr. Jung-Seok Choi (Co-lnvestigator)
Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center [Seoul, Korea]
Dr. Daniel L. King (Co-Investigator)
Department of Psychology, University of Adelaide [Australia]
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Description
In recent years, the distinction between gambling and gaming is increasingly blurred with the introduction of gambling-like activities (GLAs) embedded within video games (e.g., loot boxes, skins betting, e-sports betting). The few empirical studies that have assessed the convergence of gambling and gaming suggest these GLAs are associated with problem gambling symptoms, yet little else is known regarding this important topic. The proposed program of research is designed to add to our understanding of these GLAs in video games through a multi-disciplinary, cross-national collaboration that will examine: (i) the inter-relationships between GLAs and their relative importance to problem gambling and gaming symptoms, (ii) the participation rates in GLAs between countries, and potential socio-cultural factors that moderate this relationship, (iii) demographic/clinical characteristics, (iv) motivations, and (v) harms associated with GLAs in three different samples of gamers (university, online gaming forums, and crowdsourcing) from Canada, Australia, Korea, Hungary, and Brazil.
Timeframe: January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022; extended to December 31, 2023; extended to December 31, 2025.
We have completed Study 1 (Scoping Review), which has been published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.
Data collection has completed for Study 2 (Survey). We recruited a total of 13,177 between all sites with approximately 5345 completed surveys. Breakdown by country below (recruited / completes):
Australia: 500 / 500
Canada: 1511 / 721
Hungary: 3000 / 1500
Gibraltar: 100 / 100
Brazil: 5379 / 1350
Korea: 1613 / 547
China: 1074 / 627
Total: 13177 / 5345
Preliminary analysis of the survey data was completed and presented at AGRI 2025 conference.
Study 3- Six research assistants at UCalgary have completed training on how to conduct interviews. Interviews will begin in June 2025 and be completed by September 2025.
Preliminary data analysis of the Canadian forum sample was presented in a talk, “A crosscultural examination of the link between loot boxes and gambling: Is it a Global Issue?” presented by Dr. Andrew Kim at the 2025 AGRI conference.
A poster, “A cross-cultural examination of help-seeking behaviours for gambling and gaming among people who purchase loot boxes with real-world currency”, by Jenna Vieira was also presented at the 2025 AGRI conference. This poster also won the “Best Poster” award for the conference.
We anticipate presenting findings of the cross-cultural project study 3 interviews at the 2026 AGRI Conference.
Kim, H. S., Leslie, R. D., Stewart, S. H., King, D. L., Demetrovics, Z., Andrade, A. L. M., Choi, J.-S., Tavares, H., Almeida, B., & Hodgins, D. C. (2023). A scoping review of the association between loot boxes, esports, skin betting, and token wagering with gambling and video gaming behaviors. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12(2), 309-351. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00013
Kim, H. S. (2025, April 24-26). A cross-cultural examination of the link between loot boxes and gambling: Is it a Global Issue? [Presentation]. Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2025, Banff, Canada.
Vieira, J. L., Henkel, L., Hodgins, D. C., & Kim, H. S. (2025, April 24-26). A cross-cultural examination of help-seeking behaviours for gambling and gaming among people who purchase loot boxes with real-world currency [Poster presentation]. Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2025, Banff, Canada.
Chen, M., Henkel, L., Hodgins, D. C., & Kim, H. S. (2024, April 11-13). Do lootbox purchasers play games differently? An examination of video gaming motives between lootbox purchasers and non-purchasers [Poster presentation]. Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2024, Banff, Canada.
Targeting Implicit Cognitions in Comprehensive Prevention Programming for Gambling, Alcohol and Cannabis Use (#87)
Project Approved 2019-20
Ms. Gillian Russell, PhD Candidate (Principal Investigator)
Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge
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Dr. Marvin Krank (Co-principal Investigator)
Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, UBC Okanagan Campus
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Dr. Robert J. Williams (Co-principal Investigator)
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
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Description
This project looks to expand on traditional prevention programming by including manipulations that target implicit cognitions. By integrating methods that influence implicit processes, we look to create prevention programming that may be automatically be activated by environmental and situational factors without the need for conscious recollection.
Access to the sample has continued to be restricted following the pandemic and shifts in the administration and teaching staff. Study materials are still prepared and ready to be administered to the sample. Similar issues are occurring in neighboring school districts for other prevention programs as well so movement to nearby districts does not seem possible. The researchers are hoping that the grant may be offered another extension of one year to account for this issue so that we may still gather data and perform manipulations over a period of three-years, with the grant period instead ending on June 30, 2026. We are also seeking permission to explore the movement of data collection from Vernon, BC to Pennsylvania. Ms. Russell is currently an Assistant Research Professor at Penn State and has contacts that may be able to provide access to schools as early as Fall 2023 (this has not been fully confirmed, pending funding decision and timeline with school – this may not occur until 2024 spring).
This project has produced no impact at this time due to the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.