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For fans and for athletes, we need to talk more about bettors harrassing players

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Matthew Wein is a former government security official who worked at DHS and the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security. He now writes the Secure Stakes Substack Newsletter and owns Wein Security Lab consulting.

At the end of May Olympic Gold Medal sprinter Gabby Thomas was heckled and harassed at a track meet by a man who had bet against her. Following her exit at the French Open, Jessica Pegula detailed the threats she receives via social media from gamblers. Earlier this spring, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his family were on the receiving end of death threats from what turned out to be a drunken gambler who lost his wager. Liam Hendrinks also received death threats via social media connected to his play this season.

More and more athletes are starting to go on the record saying that there is a correlation between sports gambling and the threats they receive. To borrow a phrase from the national security world—it seems the lights on the alarm are all blinking red right ..

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Player Protection Symposium, Toronto: Not just a box to tick

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As Canada’s market matures, player protection challenges are multiplying — from rising offshore activity to the ethical use of AI in responsible gambling.

The Player Protection Symposium at Canadian Gaming Summit 2025 brings together the key minds shaping regulation, technology, and player safety to ask: “How do we protect players without pushing them away?”

Taking place on Thursday, 19 June at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this focused track will unite leading policy experts, operators, and responsible gambling specialists to examine how Canada’s regulatory and commercial frameworks are developing to safeguard players in a maturing market.

Six expert-led sessions will cover the full spectrum of contemporary challenges, from AI-driven player protection to national self-exclusion models. The symposium offers delegates insight into evolving policies, technologies, and collaborations driving the next generation of responsible gaming in Canada.

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, said: “Protecting players should never be viewed as a compliance box to tick. It’s a complex, developing challenge that spans tech, policy, and empathy. This symposium brings together the people on the frontline of responsible gambling to share the insights that will help us build a truly sustainable gaming industry across Canada.”

The track will open with a special edition of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, featuring the very special guest, NHL legend Nick Kypreos. Kypreos will regale attendees with tales from his storied career, which included spells at the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and Toronto’s very own Maple Leafs!

Among the key panels on the track is Regulation and Responsibility: How the New Politics Affect Player Protection, which will explore what Alberta can learn from Ontario’s approach to responsible gambling and why one in five Ontario gamblers still use unregulated platforms to gamble. Craig Cornforth (Senior Business Development Manager, EPIC Global Solutions), Alistair Facciol (Vice President of iCasino, iGaming Ontario), Steve McAllister (Editor-In-Chief, The Parleh), Ryan McCarthy (Vice President, iCasino & Sports, OLG), and Geoff Zochodne (Senior News Analyst, Covers), will examine how shifting political landscapes influence player protection strategies and consider whether a coordinated national approach could reduce player reliance on unregulated markets.

Building on these regulatory themes, Self-Exclusion: A Plus for Protection or a Boost to the Black Market? will see panellists examine Ontario’s upcoming centralized self-exclusion system and assess whether it establishes an industry standard for responsible gaming or risks driving players toward unregulated markets. Aaron GlynWilliams (Chief of Staff and Head of Enterprise Strategy, OLG), Catherine Jarmain (Director – Operations & Player Relations, iGaming Ontario), Isabelle Martin (Director of Responsible Gaming, Loto-Quebec), Tracy Parker (VP, Policy, Standards and Accreditation, RGC), Dr. Kahlil Philander (Carson College of Business, Washington State University), and Al Watson (CEO, Dataworks Group) will explore how regulators and operators can strike the right balance between access, protection, and enforcement.

The session Technology in RG: From Targeted Messaging to AI Support will examine how artificial intelligence can transform responsible gambling measures by using behavioral data to spot at-risk players. Cory Fox (SVP Public Policy & Sustainability, FanDuel), Francesco Rodano (Chief Sustainable Gambling Officer, Playtech), and Dan Umfleet (Group CEO, Kindbridge) will discuss how their organizations are rolling out technology-driven solutions while tackling the ethical questions these tools create, including data privacy concerns, player consent issues, and the dangers of relying too heavily on automated systems when working with vulnerable individuals.

Also featured as part of the Player Protection Symposium is the session It Pays to Be Positive: Changing the Direction of Reinforcement in RG, which will unite leading experts to examine how shifting from punitive messaging to positive reinforcement can help ensure safer gambling behaviors.

The Player Protection Symposium is one of several focused content streams at the Canadian Gaming Summit, alongside dedicated tracks on Sports Betting & Casino, Cybersecurity, Affiliates & Advertising, Leaders, and Payments & Compliance.

Get your tickets for the Canadian Gaming Summit!

Full Event Passes are still available at a discounted rate of $795 per person when you book as a group of three or more — saving you $200 per ticket with our Group Discount.

Operators and affiliates are eligible for free Full Event Passes, just apply via the respective links.

You can also grab an Expo Plus Pass for $195, which gives you access to all conference tracks, sessions, and the show floor. Please note: this pass does not include access to networking events.

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Senate advances Bill to restrict gambling advertising in Brazil

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The Senate has approved the passage of a Bill introducing federal rules on gambling advertising. However, caution is advised, as Série A football clubs warn that the restrictions could undermine a critical revenue stream  and raise concerns over how such a statute will be applied in practice…The Senate of Brazil has accepted a further review…

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Player Protection Symposium, SBC Americas: IMGL masterclass calls for rethink on regulatory relations

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A theme is emerging in Latin America once regulatory frameworks are established, with over-regulation becoming a temptation for states seeking to increase revenue and to appease certain sections ofsocial sectors that oppose the gaming industry. This combination, according to experts, can be counterproductive: it encourages the growth of illegal practices, reduces the room for maneuver…

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Player Protection Symposium, SBC Summit Americas: Financial segmentation and RG tools

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Gambling operators and suppliers are using innovation to provide players with efficient payment processing options that also offer responsible gaming resources and tools.

The topics of financial segmentation and responsible payment tools were discussed at SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale during its Player Protection Symposium.

Financial segmentation and responsible payment tools were examined by a panel of industry experts that included PrizePicks Senior Director of Responsible Gaming Phil Sherwood, idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian and EDGE Markets CEO Seni Thomas.

The discussion also included Birches Health founder and CEO Elliot Rapaport.

Need for budgeting tools in gaming

The expansion of gaming across America has seen a bevy of payment processing options provided by operators and suppliers. The competition provides players with a variety of payment options that in some cases lack accessible RG resources and tools.

“You think about all the budgeting tools you have and if you..

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Treatment, prevention and education leaders team up to challenge Select Committee “fantasy”

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Controversial evidence given at the UK Health & Social Care Committee has been placed under further scrutiny after a second letter was sent to Chair Layla Moran complaining about its “misleading” testimony. A diverse coalition of charities and commercial organisations working in gambling harm treatment, prevention and education have teamed up to challenge the narrative…

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Norway authorities take notes as sector responds to state RG strategy

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Shareholders from all corners of the industry have had their say on Norway’s upcoming national problem gambling strategy.

Gambling regulator Lotteritilsynet, Norway’s Directorate of Health, and the State Media Authority, Medietilsynet, are co-leading the country’s biggest problem gambling reform in years, scheduled for enforcement in 2026.

The three authorities have each reached out to a large number of relevant industry parties to gather as much of a nuanced response as possible as to which areas in Norway’s national problem gambling strategy need the most attention.

ADHD Norway makes its case…
Speaking to the Directorate of Health, non-profit support organisation ADHD Norway said that it wants to see more efforts being put into helping individuals with various neurological disorders.

The body says that between 70-75% of people with ADHD in Norway suffer from various levels of impulsivity, hence putting them at heightened risk of behavioural disorders such as risk gambling.

Gry Lunde, Secretary General of ADHD Norway, added that ADHD and its relation with problem gambling should be more prominently featured in the national health curriculum and social care education – both across the professional primary health care system and in schools.

Another interesting recommendation from ADHD Norway’s proposal is for the Norwegian Correctional Service to introduce targeted courses for the identification and treatment of gambling disorders among prisoners.

To achieve all of the above, the organisation suggests that more funds be allocated to municipalities for the development of better mental health care.

It also wants to see more problem gambling services rolled out across drug treatment wards, alongside more support tools for affected others. A final proposal includes stricter restrictions on gambling advertising.

…Gambling Addiction Norway’s voice heard…
It is perhaps of no surprise that better family aid is also a top recommendation in Gambling Addiction Norway’s (GAN) response – a support network whose work focuses on helping those suffering from gambling harm and their close ones move forward with their lives.

Magnus Pedersen, Political Advisor for GAN, added that the organisation is currently experiencing a steady influx of people reaching out because they’re in need of assistance.

Some of the recommended measures put forward by GAN include a nationwide educational campaign to help relatives of those affected better understand the specialist support tools currently available.

GAN concluded by welcoming the collaborative approach of the Norwegian Lottery Authority, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, and the Norwegian Media Authority, and that it remains open to further contributions towards the problem gambling action plan.

…and the operator, Norsk Tipping
Writing directly to Norway’s regulator, state-owned operator Norsk Tipping proposed for gambling harm efforts to concentrate more on younger people between the ages of 18 and 25, given the increasing proportion of casino games customers within that demographic.

An interesting take from the operator’s letter was a recommended strategy to investigate which minorities are the most exposed to problem gambling. This would be done through a series of language surveys, which Norsk Tipping says would further inform its safer gambling messaging campaigns.

Another proposed approach to Norway’s problem gambling action plan is to research the effects of government-imposed DNS blocking, or IP address blocking.

The company also viewed treatment in a social setting as a positive practice, directly referring to Gambling Addiction Norway as an ‘exemplary’ service in the field and – among others – in need of better financial support from the government.

Given that Norsk Tipping operates as a state-owned entity in a monopoly market, its recommendations carry significantly more weight compared to other responses in the consultations.

Regardless, the operator’s future is being constantly pondered on by politicians given Norway’s status as the last monopoly market in the Nordics.

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New Jersey bill proposes studying how gambling ads are worded

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A pair of bills filed in New Jersey would not only introduce new restrictions on where gambling can be advertised but also mandate a study of how the language used in ads affects bettors.

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese and Assemblywoman Garnet Hall’s Bill A5562 was reported favorably out of the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee on May 8 and is awaiting second reading in the full chamber. Sen. John McKeon and Sen. Renee Burgess’ S4366 introduced a companion piece to a committee in the Senate on May 12.

The bills propose banning gambling advertising in or close to schools or colleges as well as prohibiting marketing in any media that “predominantly” targets people aged under 21.

The stated aim is to, “deter illegal or irresponsible gambling, challenge perceptions of gambling and encourage the use of responsible gambling tools.” A lot of the language is vague, and appears to mostly relate to physical advertising such as billboards and signs while not taking into account th..

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