North America - Player Protection Hub

Ex-Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy to speak on gambling harm at SBC Summit Americas

SBC AmericasJune 2, 2026015 views

Patrick J. Kennedy, the former Congressman behind one of the most significant mental health reform laws in American history, will take part in a major player protection discussion at SBC Summit Americas.

The betting and gaming industry event, taking place at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale June 9-11, will bring together stakeholders from across North and Latin America for three days of networking, product discovery, and high-level education.

Building a public health response to gaming harm

Kennedy’s panel, “Building a Public Health Response to Gaming Harm,” will take place on June 10 at 11:30 a.m. on the Leaders Stage. The session forms part of SBC’s recent partnership with the Better Gambling Forum (BGF), a global initiative focused on advancing evidence-based approaches to reducing gambling-related harm, with both organizations working together to promote a more practical and scalable approach to player protection across North America and beyond.

Kennedy ..

Puerto Rico strengthens player safeguards with Self-Exclusion Program

iGamingExpertMay 29, 2026018 views

Puerto Rico will become part of the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (NVSEP), as it looks to strengthen protection for people seeking support within the gambling sector.

The partnership will be between the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and the U.S. technology company idPair, which focuses on responsible gambling and operates the program.

According to a statement on Business Wire, the initiative will commence in June of this year. Through this system, eligible individuals in Puerto Rico will be able to voluntarily enroll to self-exclude and block access to gambling operators and platforms across multiple jurisdictions.

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission’s decision to join the NVSEP is part of its strategy to modernize oversight of the sector, with a focus on consumer protection and strengthening responsible gambling practices in activities such as casinos, sports betting, and other regulated gaming sectors.

Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair, stated: “Puerto Rico has built on..

New York to consider bill to ban sports betting on college campuses

SBC AmericasMay 29, 2026018 views

New York lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban college students from placing online sports wagers while on school property.

Senate Bill 10470 was introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes last week and referred to the chamber’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee as a bill that prohibits sports betting operators from accepting wagers from people located on a college campus.

The bill proposes several requirements for online sportsbooks in New York:

Operators are required to use geolocation technology to prevent wagering

The ban applies to both online sports betting operators and platform providers

If enacted, operators must deploy geolocation technology before August 2027

Under the bill, colleges and universities also have a new role. The state institutions are required to provide the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) with the “necessary geographic data and campus boundary information to effectuate compliance.”

All New York colleges and universities that would h..

Ontario Liberals seek to ban online gambling advertising via new legislation

CanadianGamingBusinessMay 26, 2026014 views

A group of Liberal Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) in Ontario have authored legislation that would ban most online gambling advertising in the province.

MPP Lee Fairclough’s Bill 107, titled the “Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act,” was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on Monday. It arrives in addition to a federal effort to rein in sports betting-specific advertising, S-211, which has passed the Senate and currently sits in the House of Commons.

MPPs target all online gambling ads, not just sports

Unlike that federal Private Member’s Bill (PMB), which aims to establish a national framework for regulating sports betting ads, Fairclough’s PMB proposes an explicit ban on online gambling advertising at large. It would amend Ontario’s Gaming Control Act of 1992 to prohibit any of the province’s almost 50 online sportsbooks and online casinos from advertising or otherwise promoting their sites or products in the province.

The bill includes some carveouts, inc..

Senate hearing on sports betting turns contentious over prediction markets

SBC AmericasMay 22, 2026036 views

A U.S. Senate subcommittee held a highly anticipated hearing Wednesday to discuss the impact of legal sports betting, though much of the discussion turned to the rise of prediction markets in the space.

The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy held the hearing to address the impact of sports wagering on America’s amateur and professional sports landscape. The hearing lasted more than two hours, with regulated gaming interests and prediction market proponents facing off via interaction with senators.

The subcommittee discussed the impact of sports betting and prediction markets on the integrity of competition as several major sports leagues and organizations deal with gambling-related issues.

“When Americans watch their favorite sports team, they don’t want to worry about the game being rigged,” said Subcommittee Chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn during the hearing. “They don’t want to worry that their favorite player missed a free throw to make..

Alberta Minister: If you like Ontario, you are going to love Alberta

iGamingExpertMay 22, 2026020 views

It doesn’t get any better than Alberta, was the message of Hon. Dale Nally, the man tasked with leading the charge towards Canada’s second regulated gaming province.

Speaking at SBC Summit Canada, Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, promised that the province will be the ‘right fit for operators’ ahead of the market launch on 13 July.

He told attendees: “We have reduced red tape, we’ve got a business-friendly environment, and we’ve got low corporate taxes. It doesn’t get any better than that. So if you like your experience in Ontario, you are going to love your experience in Alberta.”

A new chapter for Alberta

Many operators preparing for launch will already be familiar with aspects of the market, as Alberta has borrowed much of its structure from what has been successful in Ontario – a jurisdiction that pulled in revenue of over CA$4bn (£2.1bn) last year.

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will act as the market’s regulator, mirroring Ontario’s regu..

Louisiana regulator Christopher Herbert on linking legal, regulatory and treatment communities

SBC AmericasMay 21, 2026027 views

As chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Christopher Hebert deals with the constantly evolving challenges in reaching and helping problem gamblers every day.

Hebert played a key role in creating Louisiana’s Problem Gambling Resource Services (PGRS) program that pairs Louisiana’s gaming regulation division with the state’s Office of Behavioral Health. He also led the state’s effort to develop sports betting regulations.

SBC Americas spoke with Hebert in advance of his appearance at the upcoming SBC Summit Americas about his state’s efforts to lead in responsible gaming:

What can other states learn from your work in helping to develop the Problem Gambling Resource Services (PGRS) program in Louisiana?

Christopher Hebert: Other states can learn that responsible gaming programs are strongest when they are built through collaboration. In Louisiana, the Problem Gambling Resource Services program was developed through a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Justice Gam..

OLG CEO: recognising risk not the same for every player in Ontario

CanadianGamingBusinessMay 21, 2026018 views

TORONTO — Providing opening remarks at SBC Summit Canada, Duncan Hannay, President & CEO, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), underpinned that as the Ontario gaming sector continues to evolve, safer gambling must be at the forefront of its focus.

He said that it remains “crucial to our industry’s future sustainability,” specifically at a time when the gaming market is growing and changing faster than ever before.

According to Hannay, the way in which safer gambling is promoted is evolving, with the role of gaming providers being increasingly important to a sustainable sector.

How Ontario is shifting on responsible gaming

For OLG, this has led to a shift in the firm’s approach beyond what would be previously classified as a one-size-fits-all program to focus on more tailored, proactive solutions to reach players at key moments during their iGaming journey.

To bolster this strategy, the group has formed a newly created dedicated Safer Gambling team, which boosts data polic..

Kalshi emerges as first prediction market to secure NCPG membership

SBC AmericasMay 20, 2026036 views

Kalshi and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) have agreed to a landmark deal, making Kalshi the first prediction market to join the non-profit organization.

On Monday, Kalshi announced plans to invest $2m in the NCPG to support traders’ health and safety across markets in America. The two-year investment is an indication that prediction markets expose consumers to the same risks associated with gambling.

“At Kalshi, we believe in the power of prediction markets, and we are sensitive to the fact that they, like any financial trading products, come with risks,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. “As prediction markets continue to evolve, we are deeply committed to setting a new standard for responsible trading by investing in the tools, education, and protections needed to promote healthy participation and customer safety and hope that over time all trading platforms with significant retail participation follow suit.”

The partnership between Kalshi and the NCPG bridges the ga..

RGC calls for financial institutions to step up efforts against gambling harm

CanadianGamingBusinessMay 15, 2026030 views

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has called upon Canada’s financial sector to take more of a ‘proactive role’ in combatting gambling-related financial harm.

Publishing a new white paper entitled ‘Opportunities for Impact: The Role of Financial Institutions in Mitigating Gambling-Related Harm’, the RGC noted that financial institutions are in a unique position to both understand the financial well-being of their customers and better strategise how to address gambling-related harms.

“The rapid expansion of regulated gambling in Canada requires an evolved response from our financial systems,” says Tracy Parker, SVP, Accreditation, Advisory & Insights at RGC.

“By adopting tools already proven in other jurisdictions, Canadian banks can become leaders in protecting customer financial health.”

According to a 2021 study reported in the Canadian Journal of Public Health,2.7% of Canadians can be identified as “at-risk gamblers” and 0.6% are “problem-gamblers”.

With direct access to ..