2022/2023

Major Grants

An Examination of Cryptocurrency Ownership in Canada and its Relationship to Gambling Involvement and Severity (#98)

Project Approved 2022-23

Dr. Daniel McGrath (Principal Investigator)
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
Google Scholar Profile | ORCid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2772-942X

Dr. Robert J. Williams (Co-Principal Investigator)
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
Google Scholar Profile

Dr. Carrie Shaw (Principal Investigator)
Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gambling, University of Gibraltar
Google Scholar Profile

Dr. Paul Delfabbro (Co-Principal Investigator)
School of Psychology, University of Adelaide
Google Scholar Profile

Description

Involvement in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies garnered significant media attention during the global COVID-19 lockdown. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies can be considered quite risky due to high volatility, drastic swings in price, and the potential for losses due to fraud and scams.   The proposed research will thoroughly explore involvement in cryptocurrencies among a sample of Canadians, including patterns of behaviour, motives for purchasing these products, associations with gambling behaviours, and the stability/change in cryptocurrency ownership over time.

Timeframe: December 1, 2022 to December 1, 2024

The Alberta Gambling Research Institute provides grant funding to support peer-endorsed academic investigations into many aspects of gambling research. The contents, recommendations, and findings of the associated research reports, posted on this website, represent the views of the researcher(s).


Reinforcement Schedules Underlying the Allure of Gambling (#99)

Project Approved 2022-23

Dr. David R. Euston (Principal Investigator)
Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
Google Scholar Profile

 

Description

This research seeks to discover the psychological reasons why gambling activities are so alluring and how this might lead to gambling problems. It proposes a series of experiments in both rats and humans that will test a mathematical model to explain why the randomly delivered rewards used in gambling machines are so attractive.

Timeframe: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025

The Alberta Gambling Research Institute provides grant funding to support peer-endorsed academic investigations into many aspects of gambling research. The contents, recommendations, and findings of the associated research reports, posted on this website, represent the views of the researcher(s).