The Better Gambling Forum held its second seminar in New York last week during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, bringing together researchers, policymakers, mental health professionals and industry stakeholders from 11 countries. The event, hosted at Hard Rock New York, focused on the ongoing development of the Responsible Gambling Practice and Policy Pillars (RG3P) Framework.
The RG3P Framework is structured around six central pillars aimed at creating a practical guide for jurisdictions while future-proofing player protection policies against emerging technologies and market trends. These include education and harm prevention, risk detection and intervention, support and treatment, gambling environment and marketing standards, ethical industry practices, and sustainable research funding.
Participants engaged in panels and breakout sessions dedicated to each pillar, with discussions centred on integrating public health perspectives, scientific research, and regulatory priorities into actionable policies. The forum also reaffirmed the group’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling through evidence-based approaches and international collaboration.
The Better Gambling Forum was established to provide a neutral, science-led platform for advancing player protection strategies globally. This latest seminar builds on its inaugural session earlier in 2025, underscoring a commitment to continued dialogue across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions.
Shawn Fluharty, Head of Government Affairs at Play’n GO and current BGF Committee Chair said, “The BGF’s plan is to continue to engage with our peers and confirm our mission as an independent, evidence-based initiative focused on public health and community well-being.”
Fluharty continued, “Our mission is to create a practical, comprehensive framework that guides sustainable policy, while complementing existing best practices. By developing a common benchmark that unifies jurisdictions across the globe, we can enable a greater collective impact on public health.”
“The BGF’s current focus is to ensure our peers and community understand how our foundational framework will provide value to policymakers and public health professionals when creating player protection regulations,” added Francis Keyser, a steering committee member. This strategic focus highlights the Forum’s commitment to creating a solid, evidence-based foundation for harm prevention.
Dr. Harris Eyre is the Executive Director of the Brain Capital Alliance of which the newly formed Better Gambling Forum is part of. Eyre is also a Physician-scientist, and Senior Fellow for Neuro-Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
Eyre, said: “Gambling is, and has long been, a part of social life around the world – a source of entertainment, community, and economic vitality. It is not inherently harmful, nor should it be cast in a purely negative light. But its reach and character are changing.
“Today, gambling is more embedded in our digital environments than ever before – blurring lines with gaming, social media, and entertainment. These shifts bring new opportunities, but also new risks.
“Whether shaping new policies or evaluating existing ones, RG3P aims to serve as a benchmark and shared language for responsible gambling. By bridging innovation with responsibility, and growth with safeguards, we can position gambling as a healthy form of entertainment – while ensuring we mitigate its risks and protect the most vulnerable.”
