Brock University professor joins group addressing gambling boom
Michael Naraine, Associate Professor of Sport Management at Brock University, has been named the first Canadian member of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming at San Diego State University. The group brings together researchers and policymakers to examine the effects of betting and help develop evidence-based policy.
“There’s research on gambling in general, but almost nothing in Canada that focuses exclusively on sports gambling,” Naraine said in a statement. “That’s a big gap, especially considering Ontario is one of the top five jurisdictions for sports betting in North America, alongside places like New York and Nevada.”
Naraine says the speed of the industry’s growth has outpaced academic research, particularly around regulation, marketing ethics, and athlete behavior. He plans to propose a Brock course to address the topic. He also raised concerns about a lack of Canadian-led research into how sports betting affects vulnerable groups, including youth and Indigenous communities.
According to a study published in the American Medical Association’s journal, JAMA Internal Medicine, in February, searches for gambling addiction have risen by between 30% and 67% in states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
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