Luke Clark

The Centre for Gambling Research (led by @lukeclark.bsky.social ) is on bluesky.
Give @cgr-ubc.bsky.social a follow for updates on our research!

When gaming leads to gambling: the risks of loot boxes - Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health | DMCBH In recent years, video games have evolved far beyond being “just a game.” Today’s digital landscapes are filled with in-game purchases and upgrades, such

Video game loot boxes offer randomized rewards for a low cost. For many, it provides the thrill of winning rare prizes. But for others, it could serve as a gateway for something far riskier: gambling.

A new study by @lukeclark.bsky.social investigates this, and the results are striking. Read more⬇️

New on The BASIS: We review a study by researchers from Tampere University, Finland that assessed how basic psychological needs affect the relationship between gambling and gaming to escape daily life and problematic gambling and gaming. basisonline.org/2025/04/15/u...

@elepetrovs.bsky.social, @katialha.bsky.social, and I are organising an online workshop on games and advertising.

Two parts:
1️⃣: paper presentations; and
2️⃣: workshop on how to use social media ad repositories.

Abstract deadline: 19 May 2025
Workshop: 12 June 2025

Details: bit.ly/advertising-...

I got to write a little something about the illusion of control.

Thanks to @natrevpsych.bsky.social I now have a my first single author publication ✨

Check out their other journalclub papers, it‘s a cool article format for ECRs!

I am thrilled to share this call for papers with you at the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science.

@cassie-boness.bsky.social and I, alongside @aidangcw.bsky.social, are looking for proposals on the science and practice of behavioral addictions research.

www.apa.org/pubs/journal...

Opinion: Dangers of going all-in on online gambling Opening B.C.’s online gambling to private companies would make many British Columbians' wages turn to wagers lost to private companies

Alberta, like Ontario before it, is moving to expand and privatize online gambling. In a new OpEd, @lukeclark.bsky.social and I argue that British Columbia should not follow suit.

vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

I’m joining City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor. By establishing the Creative Media Policy Observatory, we will ‘scale up’ and conduct more empirical research on video game law and regulation, and also explore the policy issues relating to adjacent creative media industries. 🔬⚖️🎮👾

New preprint: Does the habit theory of addictions extend to disordered gambling?🤔 osf.io/preprints/os...

In this review paper with @lukeclark.bsky.social, we dive into the theory, examine the current evidence, and provide suggestions for future research! 📖✨

One of my favorite projects (doi.org/10.1556/2006...) just won the Best Paper of the Year 2023 in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions Award.

Currently we are working on the empirical follow-up, so stay tuned.

A little summary of what we did and why it is one of my favorites in this thread🧵

Announcing.....a new edition of Uncensored Advice for getting into grad school! Now with some info on emerging opps for a masters in psychology! Check it out for FREE: mitch.web.unc.edu/wp-content/u....
#psychology
#PsychSky
#mentalhealth
#PsychSciSky
#ClinPsych

** We are hiring ** Associate Prof / Full Prof position in Cognitive Neuroscience. Amazing department, rated top in the UK for research power in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience. Can hire internationally, so flagging for USA colleagues (all countries welcome). Come join us in London

Eleanor Maguire, who died 4 January at age 54, pioneered the famous London taxi-driver study and naturalistic approaches for studying spatial and episodic memory in people.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

www.thetransmitter.org/memory/remem...

Computational Psychiatry Conference Tübingen, Germany (July 14-16, 2025)

Poster submissions for the Computational Psychiatry Conference 2025 in Tübingen are now open. Deadline is 7th February. Symposium submissions are open until 15th January. www.cpconf.org. Please RB.

My latest paper looks at how and why people use voluntary deposit limits.

We found that most online sports bettors see deposit limits as useful and good practice, but these are for those who can't control their gambling

Barriers to use include not knowing what limit to set

doi.org/10.1080/1366...

Cardiology Grand Rounds Speaker Diversity This cross-sectional study examines data for grand rounds lectures at 42 US institutions to gauge the representation of women among cardiology grand rounds speakers.

Five years ago, as we ⬆️ diversity of Penn Cardiology Grand Rounds with Penn Women in Cardiology, I wondered what the U.S. landscape of Cardiology Grand Rounds speakerships was

Proud to work w/this amazing team to answer this question, now in @jama.com Cardiology

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Cool effect as the morning fog lifted, walking dogs in West Van

Worth noting that the authors of the paper coded whether the person asking the questions is male and female. They do find evidence that it is male academics that are systematically more hostile to women (they seem to especially do it in job market talks, although those are longer seminars, etc)

Just bumping this up for those who may have missed earlier announcements-- we have a new PI position in the Neuroscience & Mental Health program here at SickKids. Neural and glial mechanisms in cognition.

Big thanks to @charlotteeben.bsky.social for the nudge , and @katiew.bsky.social @micahgallen.com and @jcesarpl.bsky.social for the awesome starter packs for addiction sci, cog neuro, behavioural addictions

Oh, this is fun. Feels like a game of Sardines where I’ve just discovered about 200 ex-tweep academics hiding behind a tree. Great to see everybody