This research is a recent study undertaken by the Centre for Gambling Education and Research, Southern Cross University. The aim of this study was to examine, identify and analyse gambler’s formal and informal help seeking behaviour. The study found that there was a low overall awareness of the gambling help specific services by the respondents. Indigenous and CALD gamblers also revealed a low awareness of professional help overall. The stigma and shame felt by people with a gambling problem, along with the secrecy surrounding the problem, creates a barrier for seeking either professional or non-professional help.

Of the four gambler risk categories (as determined by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index), problem gamblers were the least willing to use non-professional help from partners, other family members or friends, however; problem gamblers were most aware of the professional services available in their region for gambling help, with the exception of face-to-face counselling services.

For those who did seek professional help, the main motivators were serious financial, emotional and relationship issues. Interviews with recovered problem gamblers revealed that the movement of help-seeking generally seemed to be a circular activity beginning and ending with self-help behaviour. There was also a strong preference for self-help as the first type of help to be used if respondents became concerned about their gambling.

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is accepting letters of intent for Large Grants and NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research.

For Large Grants, applicants may request up to $75,000 in direct costs per year for a period not to exceed 24 months for investigations on gambling disorders.

For the NCRG Centers of Excellence, applicants may request up to a total of $350,000 in direct costs for a period not to exceed 36 months.

Deadline for submissions is March 1st, 2012.

The Manitoba Gambling Research Program is now accepting proposals and grant applications. Research opportunities are available for researchers across Canada.

Submission Deadlines:

Research Grants: Small Grants (up to $50,000) deadline for submissions is February 22nd, 2012.

Studentship Grants (up to $60,000) deadline for submissions is March 1st, 2012.

Letter of Intent (LOI) for Large Grants (up to $450,000) deadline for submissions is March 21st, 2012.

Conference Grants (up to $2,000) are accepted year-round.

Focused Research Proposals: “Strategies for Significant Others who are Concerned about an Individual with a Gambling Problem” (Up to $130,000 per project awarded) deadline for submissions is March 5th, 2012.

The Manitoba Gambling Research Program supports the development of high quality research that enables the evidence-based advancement of responsible gaming programs, and problem gambling prevention and treatment. The $1 million annual funding of the Manitoba Gambling Research Program grants is overseen by a Research Council. The programs is funded and administered by Manitoba Lotteries.

Information on the program can be found at www.manitobagamblingresearch.com.

The International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University invites submissions to the 2011 Durand Jacobs Award competition, to be awarded to the best graduate student paper related to the psychology of addictive behaviors. This annual award is dedicated to Dr. Durand Jacobs' lifelong efforts to help mentor students. Published and/or publishable papers will be considered by the selection committee, comprised of an international panel of experts in the field. The recipient will receive an award plaque and their work will be featured in the Youth Gambling International newsletter.

Please submit all entries electronically to lynette.gilbeau@mcgill.ca. If you have any questions, please direct them to Lynette Gilbeau by email, or telephone: (514) 398-4438.

Deadline for submissions is March 30th, 2012.

The aim of the European Association for the Study of Gambling (EASG) is to increase the dialogue between all who are professionally involved in commercial gaming and gambling. This includes governments or governmental bodies, the gambling industry, those who have made gaming and gambling a subject of scientific study and those who are working in the treatment field, gamblers themselves and interested public. The Conference will bring together experts from all over the world and from a wide variety of disciplines. Authors wishing to present a paper in the course of Conference must submit in advance, as a requirement for acceptance, a summary or abstract of the proposed content with a maximum extension of 250 words, setting out the general interest of the paper for the participants at the Conference and describing the content of the presentation.

Deadline for submissions is June 1st, 2012 although early submissions are highly encouraged.

Nadine Kauffman
Manager, Information Services
Responsible Gambling Council
www.responsiblegambling.org

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