An Associate Professor in Sports Management at Brock University, Michael Naraine, has become the first Canadian to join the Institute of Sports Wagering and Gaming (ISWAG) at San Diego State University. The Institute researches and provides policy recommendations relating to responsible gambling.
Key Takeaways
- Brock University’s Michael Naraine has joined the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming (ISWAG) as its first Canadian member.
- He plans to propose a course at Brock University to prepare students for careers in the growing gambling sector.
- Naraine backs funding for sports gambling research focusing on social, cultural, and ethical implications.
Naraine believes the US sports betting boom requires more research, particularly its social, cultural, and economic impacts. Gambling and data analytics are now the fastest-growing sectors for Sport Management students seeking internships and jobs at Brock University. Naraine intends to offer a course covering betting mechanics, regulation, marketing ethics, and integrity issues to counter this.
“There’s research on gambling in general, but almost nothing in Canada that focuses exclusively on sports gambling. That’s a big gap, especially considering Ontario is one of the top five jurisdictions for sports betting in North America,” Naraine said.
“Students entering the sports industry can’t afford to be in the dark about this. Understanding how sportsbooks operate, the marketing strategies they use and the ethical considerations involved is crucial."
Professors to teach sports betting safety at Carnegie Mellon
While a Brock University professor discusses launching gambling classes in the future, one university in Pennsylvania is already further along this line. Carnegie Mellon University will offer a new undergraduate course on sports betting awareness and safety in spring 2026, led by statistician Ron Yurko and neuroscience professor Linda Moya.
The course aims to educate students about the risks of compulsive gambling, the statistical realities of sports betting, and the labor required for success. Yurko said his goal is to help students understand “the odds stacked against them,” while Moya will teach about brain decision-making and addictive behaviors.
