Opportunity to Build Industry Knowledge for Alberta Residents
The University of Alberta has rolled out a specialized course aimed at providing Alberta residents with insights into the gaming industry. This micro-credential course, as reported by the Edmonton Journal, is based on research led by Fiona Nicoll, a professor in political science at the University of Alberta.
Course Foundation in Academic Research
Developed from a local study on gambling, this course draws on the extensive research coordinated by Nicoll under the Alberta Gaming Research Institute. The program aims to deepen understanding of the complex dynamics and operations within the rapidly evolving gaming industry. Nicoll emphasized the course’s goal to deliver “critical information to those regularly engaging with gambling and gaming.”
Shifting Landscape of Gaming in Alberta
Nicoll was motivated to create the course in light of Alberta’s transition toward online gaming, a change she describes as “unprecedented in Canada.” This shift marks a move from traditional physical casinos to an iGaming model, allowing individuals to gamble anytime, anywhere, through internet-connected devices. Nicoll highlighted that this model places a greater responsibility on players to monitor their own activities, transferring regulatory oversight away from casino establishments.
Making Academic Research Accessible
Nicoll also emphasized that offering this course to the public makes vital information more accessible, particularly as much academic research remains behind financial barriers. By making this course open access, Nicoll hopes to reach a broader audience. “Our project is open access,” she noted, “but not everyone understands academic language, and it can be challenging for people to interpret what it means for their lives and communities.”
With this initiative, the University of Alberta aims to educate residents on the upcoming changes in the gaming landscape and provide tools to understand and navigate this evolving field.
