Browsing by Author "Williams, Robert J."

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2019: Blurred Lines in Gambling Research
    (Alberta Gambling Research Institute, 2019-03) Browne, Matthew; Clark, Luke; Cunningham, John; Hilbrecht, Margo; Johnson, Mark R.; Quilty, Lena C.; Rodda, Simone; Sanders, James; Tavares, Hermano; Tremblay, Joël; Wardle, Heather; Williams, Robert J.; Wohl, Michael J. A.
    The Alberta Gambling Research Institute's 18th Annual Conference "Blurred Lines in Gambling Research" took place March 28-30, 2019 @ The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Opening reception the evening of March 28, 2019.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Does learning about the mathematics of gambling change gambling behavior?
    (American Psychological Association, 2006-03) Williams, Robert J.; Connolly, Dennis
    The present research examined the influence of improved knowledge of odds and mathematical expectation on the gambling behavior of university students. A group of 198 Introductory Statistics students received instruction on probability theory using examples from gambling. One comparison group of 134 students received generic instruction on probability and a second group of 138 non-Statistics students received no mathematical instruction. Six months after the intervention, students receiving the intervention demonstrated superior ability to calculate gambling odds as well as resistance to gambling fallacies. Unexpectedly, this improved knowledge and skill was not associated with any decreases in actual gambling behavior. The implication of this research is that enhanced mathematical knowledge on its own may be insufficient to change gambling behavior.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Factors Influencing the Development of Responsible Gambling: A Prospective Study (Update November 5th, 2004)
    (Alberta Gaming Research Institute, 2004-11-05) el-Guebaly, Nady; Hodgins, David C.; Smith, Garry J.; Williams, Robert J.; Williams, Vickii; Schopflocher, Don P.; Wood, Robert T.; Pickup, Mark
    Gambling is a normative activity in the Alberta population, with 82% of the adult population having gambled in the past year. 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. Unfortunately, there exist virtually no longitudinal studies of gambling. It is this important gap in the research literature that provided the impetus to assemble a cross-disciplinary and cross-university Alberta research team to develop the present proposal.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Gambling in Alberta: History, Current Status and Socioeconomic Impacts
    (Alberta Gaming Research Institute, 2011-04-28) Williams, Robert J.; Belanger, Yale D.; Arthur, Jennifer N.
    The First Section of this report elucidates our Research Approach to investigating the impacts of gambling in Alberta and our Theoretical Approach for Assessing Socioeconomic Impacts of Gambling. This theoretical approach derives from a comprehensive review of the issues involved. Because of the gradual introduction of gambling and the lack of empirical data for much of this time period, a part of the present socioeconomic analysis must necessarily be descriptive rather than empirical in nature. Thus, the Second Section of this report contains the History of Gambling in Alberta. This history indirectly speaks to the historical impacts of gambling and also provides the necessary context to understand the complex way in which gambling is provided in Alberta today. Further to this end, the second half of this section provides a comprehensive description of the Current Regulation, Availability and Provision of Legal Gambling in Alberta. The Third Section, and the main body of this report, contains the results from a more empirical analysis of the social and economic impacts of gambling. The focus of this empirical analysis is from 1970 to the present time. This is partly because of data unavailability prior to 1970; partly because 1969 was coincident with the beginning of Alberta’s ability to independently provide, regulate, and license most forms of gambling; and partly because the most rapid introduction and expansion of gambling in Alberta has occurred between the mid 1980s to the present time. Thus, this is also the period where impacts are most likely to be observed. The first part of this section is an investigation of the Amounts, Origins, and Recipients of Gambling Revenue. The second part of this section is an investigation of the Impacts of Gambling on the sectors primarily involved in the transfer and receipt of this money: the Provincial Government; Charitable Organizations; the general Alberta Populace (Society); Private Industry; and Alberta First Nations. The Fourth and final Section of this report provides a comprehensive Summary of the findings, an Assessment of the Overall Impacts, and policy Recommendations deriving from these results.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Leisure, Lifestyle, & Lifecycle Project (LLLP): A Longitudinal Study of Gambling in Alberta. Final Report for the Alberta Gambling Research Institute
    (Alberta Gambling Research Institute, 2015-02) el-Guebaly, Nady; Casey, David M.; Currie, Shawn R.; Hodgins, David C.; Schopflocher, Don P.; Smith, Garry J.; Williams, Robert J.
    The Leisure, Lifestyle, and Lifecycle Project (LLLP) is a five-year prospective longitudinal study designed to collect data on the factors influencing change in gambling and problem gambling behavior over time. A sample of 1808 participants from four locations representing the diversity of the province of Alberta (Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge area, and Grand Prairie area) were recruited primarily through random digit dialing. In order to assess the development of gambling problems over the lifespan, five critical age ranges were targeted: 13-15, 18-20, 23-25, 43-45 and 63-65 year-olds. Individuals with relatively heavy involvement with gambling were over sampled. A broad array of psychosocial variables was assessed at baseline via telephone, face-to-face and computer self-completion interviews. The sample was weighted to match the population of Alberta according to age, gender, geographic location and the over sampling procedure. The three follow-up interviews of the cohort were completed by paper- or Internet-based surveys. Retention in the fourth and final assessment was 76.2% for the adult cohorts, 71.8% for the adolescent cohort, and 75.1% for the combined cohort. Three primary questions directed this project: 1. What are the normal patterns of continuity and discontinuity in gambling and problem gambling behaviour? 2. What biopsychosocial variables and behaviour patterns are most predictive of current and future problem gambling? 3. What etiological model of problem gambling is best supported by the longitudinal findings? This report provides analyses of the adult sample and focuses primarily on the first two of the primary research questions above - specifically, on identifying variables that are robust predictors of future problem gambling onset, the stability of gambling problems over time, and the development of a multivariate model that illustrates the interaction of gambling behaviour and problem gambling over time. A tentative etiological model is also presented to address the last research question. The LLLP sample problem gambler prevalence at wave 1 was 4.7% (weighted prevalence 3.2%). A similar longitudinal study was conducted during the same time period in Ontario, namely the Quinte Longitudinal Study. A set of parallel analyses was conducted on the QLS dataset to identify findings that were robustly supported in both studies. The collective findings of the 8 LLLP and QLS studies represent the most comprehensive longitudinal analysis of gambling and problem gambling currently in the literature.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Prevention of Problem Gambling: A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence & Recommended Best Practices
    (2008-10-21) Williams, Robert J.
    Legalized gambling is now widely available in most western countries. Along with increased gambling has come increased rates of gambling addiction. This presentation provides a comprehensive review of the nature and effectiveness of educational and policy initiatives that are being used around the world to prevent problem gambling. It ends with recommendations concerning best practices in prevention.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Prevention of problem gambling: Lessons learned from two Alberta programs
    (National Association for Gambling Studies Inc., 2004) Williams, Robert J.; Connolly, Dennis; Wood, Robert; Currie, Shawn
    The development of effective problem gambling prevention programs is in its infancy. The present paper discusses results of randomized control trials of two programs that have been implemented in Alberta, Canada. The first is a 10 session program delivered to several classes of university students taking Introductory Statistics. This program focused primarily on teaching the probabilities associated with gambling and included several hands-on demonstrations of typical casino table games. The second is a 5 session program delivered to high school students at several sites in southern Alberta. This program was more comprehensive, containing information and exercises on the nature of gambling and problem gambling, gambling fallacies, gambling odds, decisionmaking, coping skills, and social problem-solving skills. Data concerning gambling attitudes, gambling fallacies and gambling behaviour at 3 and 6-months postintervention are presented. The findings of these studies are somewhat counter-intuitive and have important implications for the design of effective prevention programs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Program findings that inform curriculum development for the prevention of problem gambling
    (National Association of Gambling Studies Australia, 2004-05) Williams, Robert J.; Connolly, Dennis; Wood, Robert; Currie, Shawn; Davis, R. Meghan
    The development of effective problem gambling prevention programs is in its infancy. The present paper discusses results of randomized control trials of two programs that have been implemented in Alberta, Canada. The first is a 10 session program delivered to several classes of university students taking Introductory Statistics. This program focused primarily on teaching the probabilities associated with gambling and included several hands-on demonstrations of typical casino table games. The second is a 5 session program delivered to high school students at several sites in southern Alberta. This program was more comprehensive, containing information and exercises on the nature of gambling and problem gambling, gambling fallacies, gambling odds, decision-making, coping skills, and social problem-solving skills. Data concerning gambling attitudes, gambling fallacies and gambling behaviour at 3 and 6-months post-intervention are presented. The findings of these studies are somewhat counter-intuitive and have important implications for the design of effective prevention programs.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Proportion of Gaming Revenue Derived from Problem Gamblers: Examining the Issues in a Canadian Context
    (Blackwell Publishing Limited, 2004-12) Williams, Robert J.; Wood, Robert T.; School of Health Sciences; School of Health Sciences; University of Lethbridge
    The legitimacy of government-sponsored gambling and its continued expansion depends in part on the impact that gambling has on society and the extent to which gambling revenue is derived from vulnerable individuals. The purpose of the present article is to try to establish a valid estimate of the proportion of gaming revenue derived from problem gamblers in Canada. Using recent secondary data collected in eight Canadian provinces, we estimate this proportion to be 23.1%, compared to a problem gambling prevalence rate of 4.2%. This estimate must be seen as tentative, however, as self-reported expenditures are 2.1 times higher than actual provincial gaming revenues.