University of Alberta offers gaming course

Natasha Tikasz November 2, 2024

SiGMA news

University of Alberta offers gaming course

The University of Alberta launches a new micro-credential course on gaming and gambling for Canadian residents. Markedly, the course was created by University of Alberta political science professor Fiona Nicoll based on her research as a research coordinator for the Alberta Gaming Research Institute. Nicoll stated that she hopes the course “will provide critical information to those regularly dealing with gambling and gaming.”

Quickly growing industry

With the immense growth of the gambling industry, major sporting events have led to record usage of the local Canadian sportsbook Play Alberta app. Earlier this year, they saw a surge in their sportsbook usage for the NHL playoffs since its launch four years ago. Currently, Play Alberta is the only regulated online gambling site offered to Albertans in the province.

Correspondingly, with more usage comes more risks in the gambling industry. The University of Alberta gaming course hopes to provide information on what goes into this fast-growing industry. Overall, as engagement increases, it aims to equip professionals and graduate students across various fields to navigate the new gambling environment within their province.

Easier access to information in demand

Speaking to the Edmonton journal about why the course was being introduced, Nicolls said, “I just thought, look, we can produce this knowledge, but actually, people need it, and people need it right now, like almost yesterday.

I saw the need to bring this to as many people as possible because the transformations that are coming are unprecedented in Canada. And in this province, the shift from brick-and-mortar casinos to an iGaming model, where you can gamble at any time, anywhere, on your device with a good internet connection, is a radical shift, partly because it takes regulation out of the hands of the establishments. It downloads that responsibility onto every player to track their consumption.”

The course is a four-day intensive course offered in person and synchronously through the online and continuing education office at the University of Alberta from Nov. 12-15. The cost is $1,000 (including a networking lunch on all four days), including assessment. All graduates receive a credential to apply to their CVs/transcripts.

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