HRI Talks-Click. Bet. Regret? Problem Gambling and Mental Health

This free public event welcomes everyone to join us on September 17, 2025!
 

Event information:

September 17, 2025
7:00 - 8:00 PM ET (on Zoom)
Click here to register 

The program includes a moderated discussion followed by a live Q&A with the audience. A recording will be shared with registrants after the event and posted to HRI's YouTube page.

Event description:

Online gambling is more accessible in Canada than ever before, with new types of betting and platforms emerging alongside technological advances. While it’s often viewed as harmless entertainment, it can quickly become problematic— sometimes without the visible signs we associate with other forms of addiction. As more people are affected, it’s important to understand the systems, technologies and social pressures that make online gambling especially risky.

In this HRI Talk, we’ll explore how online gambling differs from traditional gambling, who’s most at risk, and what it means for mental health.

What You’ll Learn:

• How recent legislative changes, particularly around sports betting, and advances in technology have made online gambling more accessible and contributed to increased participation across Canada.
• Why certain groups such as young adults, women, and lower-income individuals are more vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
• What tools and strategies are available to reduce harm, and where gaps still exist in prevention and support systems.

Featuring:

Dr. Iris Balodis is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. She serves as Associate Director of both the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research and the Centre for Clinical Neuroscience, and leads the Integrated Neuroscience of Motivation and Change (IN-MaC) Lab. A founding member of the Ontario Gambling Research Society, her research explores motivation and decision-making using brain imaging and behavioural methods in both substance and non-substance use disorders. With counsellor Deirdre Querney, she co-developed Brain Connections, a program to increase understanding of problem gambling and the brain.

Andrée Busenius is a speaker for the Problem Gambling Resources Network (PGRN) who draws on her own and others’ lived experiences with gambling and substance use challenges to inspire change. She holds an Honours degree in Political Science with a minor in French from the University of Alberta and spent nearly a decade in economic development. Andrée speaks to schools, community groups, and conferences, working to reduce stigma, humanize addiction, and create space for healing.

Dr. Andrew Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University and a registered clinical psychologist in Ontario. Dr. Kim completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary and a CPA accredited psychology residency at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre in the Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders Program. Dr. Kim’s research has examined the impact of recent legislative changes to sports betting, including newer forms such as in-play betting and the impact of sports betting advertisement on gambling behaviours.

Moderated by: Garvia Bailey, journalist and co-founder of Media Girlfriends.

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