Who we are
The Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use (GGTU) program is part of the Knowledge Exchange and Training (KET) portfolio in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Provincial System Support Program (PSSP). GGTU aims to build a stronger mental health and addictions system in Ontario by supporting mental health and addictions service providers through training and education, digital tools and resources, and knowledge-sharing activities.
Learn moreJoin the GGTU Community of Interest
The Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest brings together addiction and mental health service providers, researchers and subject matter experts in the fields of gambling, technology/Internet use and video gaming to collaborate and share knowledge on emerging trends and clinical best practices.
Join our online Community of Interest (CoI) to discuss problem gambling, gaming and technology use. Participants can post and share relevant information on research findings, webinars, professional development opportunities and more.
March 2023 Newsletter
Extra! Extra!
Informative news from the sector.
To view the article, select the hyperlink:
Are video games good for kids' brains or bad for them? New research suggests the answer is 'neither'
Reasonable amounts of video gaming should be OK, which will be delightful news for the kids. Just keep an eye out for obsessive behaviour.
Ontarians wagered $11.5B on sports in one quarter, not even counting Super Bowl
Ontario is an outlier in Canada for sports gambling and it's booming, with $11.5B in ... Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.
Canada's Fascinating Ebbs and Flows of Super Bowl Betting
Betting on the Super Bowl naturally saw the same interesting ebbs and flows as the game itself, won by the Kansas City Chiefs, on a late field goal, 38-35, beating the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gamers take part in over a dozen games at Alberta Esport Expo
Gamers took part in tournaments for 17 different games, and connecting with other like-minded individuals through panels.
How Gamers Use Video Games to Explore Their Gender Identity
‘This makes me feel seen:' 'Sims' update for trans players marks latest win for LGBTQ gamers.
Special Features:
St. Michael’s Unity Health SPRinG app study:
Have gambling concerns? St. Michael’s Unity Health is looking for research participants to use an app designed to help people manage their gambling. You must be 19+ years old to participate in this study. The study involves the use of a digital health tool to support people recovering from gambling with a focus on supporting self-management among people experiencing poverty/homelessness and women.
Visit the Apple or Google Play store to download the SPRinG app or contact the study team for more information at springapp@unityhealth.to. Please note that email is not secure. Emails can be intercepted, viewed, changed or saved by others. Only send information to this address that you do not feel is sensitive.
What does the data show us?
- A measure to assess illness awareness in problem gambling: Gambling Awareness and Insight Scale (GAS)
- The impact of COVID-19 on gambling-related crisis calls in Ontario, Canada: An interrupted time series analysis
- Problem gambling message board activity and the legalization of sports betting in the US: A mixed methods approach
- A multi-method investigation of normative and pathological personality across the spectrum of gambling involvement
- Knowledge of random events and chance in people with gambling problems: An item analysis
Knowledge is power. Register for our capacity building webinars and courses.
Recent
- Mar 14 - Webinar
- Dec 11 - Webinar
- Nov 30 - Webinar
- Nov 16 - Webinar
- Feb 15 - Webinar
Meet the GGTU team
Our team is a dedicated group that works collaboratively to strengthen service provider capacity to deliver evidence-based treatments that address gambling, gaming and technology use issues in Ontario. In this section, you will meet and learn more about the GGTU team.
In this instalment of Meet the Team, we introduce you to Hamza Ansari, Education Specialist.
Question: How long have you worked at CAMH? Tell us about your role in GGTU.
I started working at CAMH in November of 2021 as an Education Specialist. Previously, I completed student placements in different departments throughout the organization. In my role, I help develop online training and knowledge-sharing resources related to gambling, gaming, and technology use.
Question: What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently co-developing two intermediate online courses on cognitive-behavioural strategies for problem gambling. I am also supporting the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program in developing learning objectives and activities for two webinars they are delivering to their stakeholders. In addition, I am working on a new framework for how our online trainings are evaluated and a needs assessment for our stakeholders.
Question: What excites you the most about working at CAMH?
Working with amazing, smart, and supportive colleagues who bring experiences from different sectors. Also, it’s nice knowing that the organization is striving to convert the latest research into practice to help serve people who struggle with mental health and addictions.
Question: What is one thing that your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
In my third year of university, I was a part of a student group that tutored students and used the money that we raised to help with development projects in emerging economies. I had the opportunity to help repair a school in rural Costa Rica that was damaged in an earthquake. We stayed in the school and one morning I woke up and my right foot was pretty swollen and bruised. At the hospital the doctor informed me that I was stung by a scorpion. After some medications my foot recovered. Unfortunately, I didn’t gain any superpowers but I think I gained a pretty cool story!