This panel discussion will bring together mental health and treatment providers to share perspectives about the connection between trauma and gambling harms experienced by marginalized communities in Ontario. We will examine the difficulties faced when marginalized people seek resources, support and treatment and will offer practical strategies for improving service systems to better support clients. Panelists will share insights from their professional experience of moving towards solutions that foster more inclusive and effective care.

Preventing gambling‑related harm requires more than regulatory compliance—it demands leadership, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement. As expectations for responsible play continue to rise, this session explores how organizations are moving beyond minimum standards to embed excellence in player protection. It examines the drivers of meaningful improvement and showcases practical strategies that deliver measurable harm‑reduction outcomes while strengthening transparency and accountability.

Youth gambling is not a fringe issue—it’s a growing, under-recognized threat to a student’s well-being, academic performance, and mental health. While most high school students are underage, gambling is happening at rates that are of high concern: 8% have bet real money online in the past year, and nearly 1 in 4 reports gambling through video games. These aren’t just numbers—they’re warning signs of a hidden crisis.

Fueled by the rise of online gaming, loot boxes, skins betting, and significant exposure to traditional and digital gambling ads, adolescents are being drawn into risky behaviours that most adults don’t understand and don’t see coming. What looks like harmless fun can lead to financial harms, poor academic or athletic performance, and mental health issues.

Yet schools, parents, and coaches rarely talk about it. Why? Because gambling is seen as an issue that is of low concern, with most adults simply unaware of just how risky and accessible these newer forms of gambling are.

Player protection strategies must adapt to the environments in which gambling takes place. This session explores how safer‑play approaches are applied across diverse settings—from charitable gaming halls and lottery retail to VLT environments and integrated resorts—highlighting how context‑specific strategies such as venue design, community dynamics, staff engagement, and player‑facing tools can strengthen safer play.

Canada’s sports betting ecosystem is evolving rapidly. This session will present new findings from our recent Canadian national study, offering fresh insights into player behavior and market trends. A panel discussion will examine implications for marketing practices, regulatory frameworks, and harm‑prevention strategies, with a spotlight to youth and young adults.

UNLV’s AiR (Artificial Intelligence Research) Hub is advancing a global “living repository” focused on the responsible use of AI in gambling. This session begins with a brief, industry focused snapshot of how AI is currently being used across gambling, including its growing role in player risk detection. The primary focus then turns to the AiR Hub’s benchmarking initiative, which addresses a critical gap in responsible gambling: while AI systems increasingly flag at risk players, there is little consistency in how their effectiveness is measured. The session explores how standardized benchmarks can improve transparency, comparability, and accountability.

This session looks at how organizations can make responsible gambling interactions timely, human centered, and enterprise wide—connecting key player journey touchpoints with AI enabled insights and clear protocols. We’ll explore ways to build staff confidence, translate digital signals into meaningful conversations, and embed role specific training to create a consistent culture of care.

Research from neuroscience is often referenced in discussions about gambling product design, player engagement, and harm prevention—but translating brain based evidence into responsible gambling practice requires care and context. This session explores what insights from neuroscience and related behavioural sciences can meaningfully inform safer gambling strategies and how brain based research can inform player education, product communication, and prevention efforts in ways that support informed choice and align with public health principles.

Young people spend more time online than any other age group, making digital environments a key setting for both well-being and risk. This session examines the growing intersection between youth mental health and gambling, with particular attention to how digital platforms, gameplay environments, and social media influence behaviour, can inform harm prevention. Drawing on the latest research—including insights from media data—we will share how online time shapes young peoples experiences and highlight ethnocultural considerations. Mental health experts will share priorities and considerations for this demographic around online time and digital well being. Participants will hear examples of evidence‑based strategies and practical messaging from youth‑centered digital work and initiatives that were informed by young people's online experiences.

Emerging gambling markets face the dual challenge of driving growth while safeguarding players. This session explores how emerging jurisdictions can embed responsible gambling principles from the outset, considering cultural factors, player behaviours, and societal attitudes. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building sustainable frameworks that uphold regulatory integrity and promote player well-being.