The University of Alberta has launched an thrilling new microcredential course geared toward offering a complete understanding of the quickly altering playing and iGaming landscape. The course, developed by Dr. Fiona Nicoll, is designed to deal with the wants of professionals throughout a number of fields—from regulators and habit counselors to educators and journalists—by offering important insights into the intersection of playing, gaming, and fashionable know-how.
This four-day intensive course will likely be supplied from November 12-15, 2024, each in-person on the U of A campus and on-line, making it accessible to a wider vary of contributors throughout Alberta and past. The course stems from years of analysis performed by Nicoll and the Alberta Gaming Research Institute (AGRI) and gives well timed insights into the evolution of playing, together with sports activities betting, iGaming, and the use of cryptocurrency in playing.
Exploring the Digital Shift in Gambling
The gambling landscape in Alberta has undergone a serious shift lately. Traditional brick-and-mortar casinos are now not the only venues for playing, as iGaming platforms now permit customers to gamble from the consolation of their very own properties. Major sporting occasions, such because the Edmonton Oilers’ playoff run, have contributed to file utilization of the Play Alberta app, an internet playing platform that has made playing extra accessible than ever.
However, with this improve in digital playing come new challenges. The U of A course tackles points like habit, participant duty, and regulatory oversight within the iGaming period. According to Dr. Nicoll, iGaming shifts the burden of monitoring playing behaviors from regulated casinos to particular person gamers, who should now handle their consumption throughout a number of platforms. This dynamic creates dangers for downside playing, which the course goals to deal with by educating contributors on the most recent instruments and methods to mitigate these dangers.
A Unique Learning Experience for Diverse Fields
The course is particularly designed to cater to a broad viewers. Professionals in fields similar to regulation, habit therapy, Ok-12 training, and journalism will discover the course notably helpful. Through lectures, quizzes, and interactive actions, contributors will discover matters just like the position of loot containers in video video games, the rise of esports in colleges, and how on-line sports activities betting is attracting youthful, extra various gamblers.
Attendees can even delve into broader societal points, similar to the stigmas surrounding playing habit and how these influence entry to therapy. The course will present actionable insights into how totally different sectors can reply to the challenges posed by fashionable playing, and every graduate will obtain a microcredential so as to add to their CV or tutorial transcripts.
Addressing iGaming Regulation and Social Responsibility
One of the core matters within the course is how playing regulation has shifted within the iGaming area. Unlike alcohol or tobacco, the place authorities regulation performs a dominant position, a lot of the regulatory duty for on-line playing has been transferred to gaming corporations themselves. This raises issues about how properly these corporations are incentivized to advertise accountable playing.
The course additionally explores the idea of “Positive Play,” which shifts the main focus from merely accountable playing to making a extra pleasurable and sustainable playing atmosphere. Participants will interact with questions on company social duty and how constructive engagement methods may be developed to advertise more healthy playing behaviors.
What to Expect from the Course
Running from November 12-15, 2024, the four-day intensive course will function unique interviews with specialists within the playing business from throughout Canada and worldwide. Participants will likely be guided via lectures, quizzes, and discussions, focusing on matters like cryptocurrency in playing, unlawful grey-market websites, and the challenges of educating older adults about safer playing practices.
Nicoll emphasised the significance of this course, stating, “People need this information now, more than ever, as the gambling industry evolves at an unprecedented pace.” The course goals to offer a 360-degree understanding of the business’s dangers and alternatives whereas providing contributors sensible instruments to deal with these challenges of their respective fields
Source:
University of Alberta Gambling and Gaming Microcredential, ualberta.ca, October 2024.
