Web seminar underscores advancements by gaming operators, authorities, and clinicians in tackling player behavior issues
Gone are the days of hidden rooms for help with problem gambling in casinos. Today's gaming industry takes a proactive and inclusive approach to addressing this issue. Here's a look at what's changed:
Embracing Technology
The gaming sector is integrating cutting-edge technologies to combat problem gambling. Data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming standard, with platforms like the interactive dashboard used by the California Council on Problem Gambling analyzing helpline data for targeted resource allocation. Online learning systems now offer comprehensive responsible gambling (RG) training for casino employees and therapists, focusing on digital platforms and algorithm awareness. Real-time monitoring tools, like the ones used by the Oneida Nation in collaboration with IC360, prevent problem gamblers from accessing betting platforms.
Prevention and Treatment
Prevention and treatment efforts have evolved, too. The Kindbridge Research Institute's national initiative links financial counseling with RG tools to address gambling-related financial harm. Awareness campaigns, like the 2025 Problem Gambling Awareness Month, amplified public education about early intervention strategies. The National Council on Problem Gambling prioritizes bridging clinical treatment with community programs like Gamblers Anonymous through symposiums.
Sector-Specific Changes
Although each sector - tribal, commercial, and online - faces unique challenges, they are all adopting measures to prevent problem gambling. Tribes are adopting algorithm-resistant protections and partnering with tech firms to strike a balance between accessibility and harm prevention. Sports betting and iGaming focus on geofencing, spending limits, and self-exclusion tools to combat risks from mobile betting's growth. Commercial casinos emphasize mandatory RG training and customer behavior algorithms to detect early signs of problem gambling.
Regulatory and Collaborative Trends
Regulators and industry leaders are advocating for unified RG standards across sectors as mobile betting expands. Discussions surrounding ethical AI use aim to counter predatory retention algorithms and promote user resilience. Cross-sector partnerships, such as the Digital Symposium in April 2025, align clinical, technological, and community-based strategies.
This multi-faceted approach reflects a shift from reactive measures to proactive, data-informed, and collaborative frameworks in addressing problem gambling's complexities in a digital-first era.
Schexnayder, a prominent figure in the gaming industry, has advocated for the extension of destigmatization efforts towards casino-and-gambling activities in Ontario. This move follows the sector's approach in tackling problem gambling, which has seen a shift from reactive measures to proactive, data-informed, and collaborative frameworks. The embracing of technology, such as AI and real-time monitoring tools, not only helps in the prevention of problem gambling but also promotes responsible gambling, ensuring a balance between accessibility and harm prevention.
