University of Alberta Launches Open-Access Gaming Course

As Alberta moves toward the potential legalization of online gaming (iGaming), the University of Alberta has introduced a new open-access gaming course. This course, led by Professor Fiona Nicoll, aims to provide residents with critical insights into the gambling industry. Developed through research from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, this course equips Canadians with knowledge on gambling’s social, economic, and regulatory impacts, reflecting the evolving nature of the industry and Alberta’s shift from traditional casinos to online platforms.

University of Alberta Launches Open-Access Gaming Course to Prepare for iGaming Shift

The University of Alberta has announced the debut of a micro-credential gaming course designed to educate residents on the gambling industry as the province prepares for potential iGaming legalization. This new offering, based on research conducted by political science professor Fiona Nicoll, provides comprehensive insights into the industry’s rapid growth and the social impacts of digital gambling.

Key Points:

• The University of Alberta offers an open-access gaming course based on local gambling research.
• Designed to prepare residents for Alberta’s shift toward iGaming.
• Course provides accessible information on industry impacts, player responsibility, and regulation.

Professor Fiona Nicoll, also the research coordinator at the Alberta Gaming Research Institute, highlighted the course’s purpose: to inform residents about the critical aspects of a rapidly evolving industry. “The transformations that are coming are unprecedented in Canada,” Nicoll stated, referencing Alberta’s shift from brick-and-mortar casinos to a flexible iGaming model. She pointed out that this change would require players to take on greater responsibility for tracking their gambling activities, as regulation shifts from establishments to individual users.

Alberta’s potential legalization of online gaming reflects a larger trend across Canada, where gambling is increasingly moving to online platforms. Professor Nicoll designed this course with accessibility in mind, ensuring that valuable research and insights are available to a broad audience. With this new educational option, she aims to demystify the gambling industry, offering residents clear, research-backed information about the regulatory, social, and economic aspects of iGaming.

In an interview with local media, Nicoll shared her motivation for creating the course: “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…is a radical shift, partly because it takes regulation out of the hands of establishments. It downloads that responsibility onto every player to track their consumption.”

As an open-access course, the program is designed to be accessible to anyone, regardless of their familiarity with academic research. While some academic resources are limited to those with university library accounts, Nicoll emphasized that this course opens the door to wider access. “A lot of academic research is inaccessible for financial reasons. Our project is open access, so people who have university library accounts, for example, can access it,” Nicoll noted.

In addition, the course provides the language and context needed to help students understand how research findings apply to their lives and communities. Nicoll stated, “Not everybody understands the language of academic research, and very few people can understand what it means for them and their communities.”

The University of Alberta’s gaming course stands as a valuable resource for residents looking to understand the gambling industry, especially as Alberta prepares for potential iGaming legalization. By offering an accessible, research-driven approach, the course empowers individuals with knowledge to navigate the changing gambling landscape responsibly. With Alberta’s shift to online gaming, this initiative aims to ensure that residents are well-informed about the industry’s complexities and their role in it, promoting a culture of informed and responsible gaming.