Addiction: An Hour With Auer

In this episode, hosts Jon Bruford and Dr. Michael Auer engage with Andrew Kim, a Canada research chair in addictions and mental health comorbidity. They explore the complex relationship between addictions and mental health, focusing on gambling, cannabis, and the role of poverty. The conversation delves into the motivations behind gambling, the impact of social determinants of health, and the nee...

Hosts Jon Bruford and Dr. Michael Hour engage in a deep conversation with David Hodgins, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary, about the complexities of gambling, its risks, and the development of lower risk gambling guidelines. We explore the differences between gambling harm and addiction, the profiles of individuals seeking help for gambling issues, and the normalisatio...

In this episode, hosts Jon Bruford and Dr. Michael Auer engage with Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We discuss various aspects of gambling, including responsible gambling, prediction tools, and the complexities of regulation. The conversation delves into the challenges of incentivising responsible behaviour, the ro...

First up, we are really delighted (not to mention warm and tingly) to announce the podcast’s first-ever sponsor. We welcome the magnificent Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) as our headline act! In this episode, hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford engage with Brendan Bussman, a leading regulatory consultant, to explore the complexities of gambling regulation in the U.S. They discuss the di...

In the latest episode of our holistic look at all things addiction, we are joined by the excellent Travis Sztainert, director of research and education at the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG). With Travis, Dr Auer and Jon discuss the organisation's mission to support gambling research and promote responsible gaming practices. Travis emphasises the importance of research integrity...

This week's episode sees Dr Auer and his extraordinary sidekick Jon Bruford meet The Digital Wellness Center’s Richardson Amartey. We explore the significance of micro breaks in altering moods, and the role of competition in enhancing engagement through leaderboards, among much, much more. Richardson Amartey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardson-amartey/ Addiction: An Hour With Auer...

We're back with another absolute blockbuster episode that you didn't even know you needed to hear! This time Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford are joined by Professor Paweł Atroszko of the University of Gdansk to discuss the concept of work addiction, its symptoms, assessment methods, and global prevalence. Paweł highlights the significant impact of socioeconomic factors and cultural perceptions on...

Join Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford for a weekly discussion about addiction in all its forms. In this episode, Kim Lund, CEO of Aftermath Interactive, discusses his journey in the gambling industry, the challenges of game design, and the importance of responsible gaming. He emphasises the need for intelligent analysis and critical questioning within the industry, particularly regarding addiction...

In this conversation, the brilliant Professor Sally Gainsbury joins Dr Auer and Jon to discuss the significance of effective message delivery over the content itself, emphasising the need for ecological validity in research settings, particularly in gambling studies. Oh, and much more! Choice quotes: "It's not the message, but it's how you deliver it." "You have to do it in applied setting." Chapt...

In this episode, hosts Jon Bruford and Dr. Michael Auer engage with Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, a leading expert in youth gambling issues. The conversation explores the increasing prevalence of gambling among young people, the challenges of research and data collection, and the impact of online gambling and sports betting. They discuss the normalisation of gambling in society, the influence of adverti...

In this episode, the estimable Dr Auer and his craptacular sidekick Jon Bruford meet Dr. Richard Wood to discuss the complexities of responsible gambling, emphasising the importance of cultural differences, game design, and advertising in shaping player behaviour. The conversation highlights the shift towards a positive play approach, which encourages healthy gambling practices and aims to reduce...

In this episode we meet Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager of European Affairs at the EGBA, to discuss the role of the European Gaming and Betting Association in advocating for online gambling operators. The conversation covers various topics including the challenges of influencer marketing, the fragmentation of gambling regulations across Europe, the impact of regulation on black markets, and the i...

This episode of Addiction: An Hour With Auer sees us welcome the wonderful Keith Whyte to the show. If you’re not familiar with Keith’s work, where have you been exactly??? Keith discusses his extensive experience and the evolution of responsible gambling practices in the US, reflecting on the formation of the American Gaming Association (AGA), the growing awareness of problem gambling, and the im...

BetBlocker’s chief of safer gambling partnerships, the legendary Pedro Romero, joins Dr Auer and Jon to discuss a wide range of things, including the evolution of responsible gambling practices, the challenges of regulation, and the importance of algorithms in identifying problem gambling. He also highlights the role of BetBlocker in providing anonymous support for individuals struggling with gamb...

This week, hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford welcome Chris Tipping, a lifelong football-sticker obsessive who crossed over to the other side, working inside Merlin/Topps in the late ’90s/early ’00s. It’s a warm, nerdy ramble through the golden age of sticker albums, how swap-shops became a phenomenon, and why foil “shinies” felt impossible to pull. We also get inside the production sausage: le...

In the third episode of Addiction: An Hour With Auer, we meet Paul Delfabbro, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, to discuss the complex relationship between cryptocurrency trading and gambling. Paul shares insights on the psychological factors influencing crypto traders, including the role of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the socio-demographic profile of those involved in cr...

Hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford are joined by Simo Dragicevic, formerly of the Game Safety Institute and many other interesting projects… This episode we explore the complexities of the gambling industry, focusing on the evolution of regulations, the importance of data in identifying problem gambling, and the structural characteristics of gambling products. The challenges faced by initiative...

Hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford explore the Labubu craze and the rise of blind box purchasing, essentially a gambling mechanism that is widely accepted in society. We talk to assistant professor Leon Xiao of City University Hong Kong about blind boxes, and the conversation evolves naturally to encompass loot boxes, one of the more controversial aspects of modern gaming. Leon explains the app...