Spencer Murch
@spencermurch.bsky.social
Cognitive psychologist focused on addictive digital products.
Postdoc @ UCalgary
Sessional @ UBC-O
Formerly @ Concordia + UBC-V
SpencerMurch.com
Postdoc @ UCalgary
Sessional @ UBC-O
Formerly @ Concordia + UBC-V
SpencerMurch.com
This piece contrasts meta as worse than google ads, but Google ads is also (at least on YouTube shorts) inundated with medical scams and hoaxes. AI video is making them harder to spot, and Google actively discourages ad blockers, making sure these scams reach people.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
This piece contrasts meta as worse than google ads, but Google ads is also (at least on YouTube shorts) inundated with medical scams and hoaxes. AI video is making them harder to spot, and Google actively discourages ad blockers, making sure these scams reach people.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
😮
When do interaction/moderation effects stabilize in linear regression?: https://osf.io/35t84
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
😮
www.ccsa.ca/en/online-ga...
New statistics on online gambling problems among young Canadians who do gig work.
Of 1,041 Canadian young adults who gamble and who participate in Leger panels, 32% report gambling online. Among them, 69% met the criteria for problem gambling (PGSI 8+).
New statistics on online gambling problems among young Canadians who do gig work.
Of 1,041 Canadian young adults who gamble and who participate in Leger panels, 32% report gambling online. Among them, 69% met the criteria for problem gambling (PGSI 8+).
Online Gambling Among Young Canadian Adults: A Call to Action | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Highlights how young people in Canada, aged 18 to 29, are at higher risk of suffering from high levels of gambling-related harms, including financial, emotional, psychological and relationship harms. ...
www.ccsa.ca
November 12, 2025 at 10:46 PM
www.ccsa.ca/en/online-ga...
New statistics on online gambling problems among young Canadians who do gig work.
Of 1,041 Canadian young adults who gamble and who participate in Leger panels, 32% report gambling online. Among them, 69% met the criteria for problem gambling (PGSI 8+).
New statistics on online gambling problems among young Canadians who do gig work.
Of 1,041 Canadian young adults who gamble and who participate in Leger panels, 32% report gambling online. Among them, 69% met the criteria for problem gambling (PGSI 8+).
In NYT Opinion today:
"...But the rising frequency of these scandals, and the public’s fading trust, points to an industry rotting from the inside — one that rewards corruption, punishes transparency and treats addiction as a business model."
What do you think?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
"...But the rising frequency of these scandals, and the public’s fading trust, points to an industry rotting from the inside — one that rewards corruption, punishes transparency and treats addiction as a business model."
What do you think?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
Opinion | Gambling Is Killing Sports and Consuming America
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
In NYT Opinion today:
"...But the rising frequency of these scandals, and the public’s fading trust, points to an industry rotting from the inside — one that rewards corruption, punishes transparency and treats addiction as a business model."
What do you think?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
"...But the rising frequency of these scandals, and the public’s fading trust, points to an industry rotting from the inside — one that rewards corruption, punishes transparency and treats addiction as a business model."
What do you think?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/o...
A decent (but not perfectly informative re: survey composition and weighting) survey with propensity weighting to estimate self-reported use of unregulated gambling products in the USA.
Could be improved by bootstrapped variance estimation, but still decent.
www.americangaming.org/wp-content/u...
Could be improved by bootstrapped variance estimation, but still decent.
www.americangaming.org/wp-content/u...
August 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A decent (but not perfectly informative re: survey composition and weighting) survey with propensity weighting to estimate self-reported use of unregulated gambling products in the USA.
Could be improved by bootstrapped variance estimation, but still decent.
www.americangaming.org/wp-content/u...
Could be improved by bootstrapped variance estimation, but still decent.
www.americangaming.org/wp-content/u...
A report on the state of unregulated gambling in BC. Raises (and maybe answers) the multimillion dollar question: if most offshore gambling is on the same sites lobbying for liberalization with regulation, what benefit do they perceive? Freedom to advertise and expand?
theijf.org/bc-residents...
theijf.org/bc-residents...
B.C. residents betting billions on unregulated gambling sites, 2021 report found
Province tried to prevent release of report with details about reach of offshore betting sites
theijf.org
August 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
A report on the state of unregulated gambling in BC. Raises (and maybe answers) the multimillion dollar question: if most offshore gambling is on the same sites lobbying for liberalization with regulation, what benefit do they perceive? Freedom to advertise and expand?
theijf.org/bc-residents...
theijf.org/bc-residents...
A Nobel prize is fine, but what academics really want is to kick the creators of manuscriptcentral one time really hard in the shin.
July 21, 2025 at 6:07 PM
A Nobel prize is fine, but what academics really want is to kick the creators of manuscriptcentral one time really hard in the shin.
UK Postdoc opportunity just posted: an 18 Month policy fellowship with the Research and Statistics Team at the UK Gambling Commission, funded by UKRI.
Details here:
www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
Details here:
www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
UKRI policy fellowships 2025
Spend 18 months as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) core policy fellow, Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellow or What Works Innovation fellow to inform policy to address pressing national an...
www.ukri.org
June 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
UK Postdoc opportunity just posted: an 18 Month policy fellowship with the Research and Statistics Team at the UK Gambling Commission, funded by UKRI.
Details here:
www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
Details here:
www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
🎉🧵 New Paper Thread 🎉🧵
Machine Learning models that aim to detect at-risk online gamblers seem to hit a performance ceiling, and exhibit serious imprecision when making positive-class predictions.
WHY?
Maybe it's the outcome variable, the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
Machine Learning models that aim to detect at-risk online gamblers seem to hit a performance ceiling, and exhibit serious imprecision when making positive-class predictions.
WHY?
Maybe it's the outcome variable, the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
May 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🎉🧵 New Paper Thread 🎉🧵
Machine Learning models that aim to detect at-risk online gamblers seem to hit a performance ceiling, and exhibit serious imprecision when making positive-class predictions.
WHY?
Maybe it's the outcome variable, the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
Machine Learning models that aim to detect at-risk online gamblers seem to hit a performance ceiling, and exhibit serious imprecision when making positive-class predictions.
WHY?
Maybe it's the outcome variable, the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
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...
vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...
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
vancouversun.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
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...
vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...
Are craving and satiety neurological opposites? Could someone experience craving while feeling sated? Is reducing craving tantamount to inducing satiety? How might semaglutide improve / inform our knowledge of naltrexone, acamprosate, sobriety, and addiction?
Very exciting times in the field!
Very exciting times in the field!
March 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Are craving and satiety neurological opposites? Could someone experience craving while feeling sated? Is reducing craving tantamount to inducing satiety? How might semaglutide improve / inform our knowledge of naltrexone, acamprosate, sobriety, and addiction?
Very exciting times in the field!
Very exciting times in the field!
TT faculty interviews are a singularly intense and interesting experience. There is really nothing like it.
March 18, 2025 at 7:29 PM
TT faculty interviews are a singularly intense and interesting experience. There is really nothing like it.
Reposted by Spencer Murch
Hi everyone, if you are interested in #psychedelic-assisted therapy, we just published a new study: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... Congratulations to Dr. Nathalie Rieser, who has done a terrific job spearheading this project.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder: a phase 2 randomized clinical trial
Despite the promising therapeutic effects of psilocybin, its efficacy in preventing relapse after withdrawal treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) …
www.sciencedirect.com
March 15, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Hi everyone, if you are interested in #psychedelic-assisted therapy, we just published a new study: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... Congratulations to Dr. Nathalie Rieser, who has done a terrific job spearheading this project.
Very honoured to receive a UBC FASS Outstanding Lecturer Award 2024/25. It's a real pleasure to teach at UBCO Psych.
provost.ok.ubc.ca/2025/02/24/2...
provost.ok.ubc.ca/2025/02/24/2...
Recognizing the 2024/25 Outstanding Instructors
provost.ok.ubc.ca
February 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Very honoured to receive a UBC FASS Outstanding Lecturer Award 2024/25. It's a real pleasure to teach at UBCO Psych.
provost.ok.ubc.ca/2025/02/24/2...
provost.ok.ubc.ca/2025/02/24/2...
Reposted by Spencer Murch
A Visual Introduction to Hierarchical Models
A visual explanation of multi-level modeling
mfviz.com
February 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Spencer Murch
2024 marked 70 years since the tobacco industry, faced with mounting evidence of the harm caused by its products, issued their “Frank Statement” to smokers reassuring them that the link between smoking and lung cancer was yet to be proven.🧵
February 13, 2025 at 12:22 PM
2024 marked 70 years since the tobacco industry, faced with mounting evidence of the harm caused by its products, issued their “Frank Statement” to smokers reassuring them that the link between smoking and lung cancer was yet to be proven.🧵
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries asks courts to block offshore gambling site on behalf of gaming coalition
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries asks courts to block offshore gambling site on behalf of gaming coalition | CBC News
A coalition of Canadian gaming agencies is hoping an application to stop an offshore betting site from operating in Manitoba sets a precedent in the fight against illegal online gambling.
www.cbc.ca
February 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries asks courts to block offshore gambling site on behalf of gaming coalition
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta has cut funding to the province's Problem Gambling Resources Network. This development is surprising and dismaying as online gambling continues its rapid expansion and privatization across Canada.
www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
Province cuts funding to gambling support group focusing on video gaming with students
The province has pulled the plug on funding for a non-profit organization that provides education and resources for gambling addiction.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 4, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Alberta has cut funding to the province's Problem Gambling Resources Network. This development is surprising and dismaying as online gambling continues its rapid expansion and privatization across Canada.
www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
Reposted by Spencer Murch
Nicotine pouches are now banned in South Australia. They're now subject to the same controls as illicit tobacco and e-cigarette products. Info here: www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releas...
New alarming nicotine trend banned in South Australia
www.premier.sa.gov.au
January 30, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Nicotine pouches are now banned in South Australia. They're now subject to the same controls as illicit tobacco and e-cigarette products. Info here: www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releas...
Reposted by Spencer Murch
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...
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...
January 8, 2025 at 3:48 AM
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...
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...
My 11-month-old did something that looked a lot like theory of mind. He pointed towards something he wanted me to give to him, then looked at me, saw I was looking at a different nearby object, and so grabbed that, threw it away, and pointed again.
Way early for ToM.
What happened here??
Way early for ToM.
What happened here??
December 28, 2024 at 1:05 AM
My 11-month-old did something that looked a lot like theory of mind. He pointed towards something he wanted me to give to him, then looked at me, saw I was looking at a different nearby object, and so grabbed that, threw it away, and pointed again.
Way early for ToM.
What happened here??
Way early for ToM.
What happened here??
Reposted by Spencer Murch
What do you think about the idea that there is a lot of 'black market' gambling in monopoly nations? I'm having a hard time finding good estimates of how much this happens.
www.gamblingnews.com/news/austria...
www.gamblingnews.com/news/austria...
Austria Faces Pressure from EGBA to Give Up Gambling Monopoly
The EGBA is urging Austria to replace its outdated gambling monopoly with a multi-licensing system, promising improved consumer protections.
www.gamblingnews.com
December 21, 2024 at 4:06 AM
What do you think about the idea that there is a lot of 'black market' gambling in monopoly nations? I'm having a hard time finding good estimates of how much this happens.
www.gamblingnews.com/news/austria...
www.gamblingnews.com/news/austria...
Reposted by Spencer Murch
‘Callous exploitation’: NSW losing $1 million an hour on pokies
www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...
www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...
‘Callous exploitation’: NSW losing $1 million an hour on pokies
In one council area, more than $2 million a day was poured into poker machines during a three-month period, leaving gambling reform advocates furious.
www.smh.com.au
December 17, 2024 at 8:31 AM
‘Callous exploitation’: NSW losing $1 million an hour on pokies
www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...
www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...