New Better Gambling Forum consolidates global player protection expertise

The gambling landscape has shifted dramatically. What was once confined to brick-and-mortar casinos or betting shops is now accessible nearly everywhere via smartphone. This digital evolution presents new challenges for regulators and operators globally. Paul Pellizzari, Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Hard Rock International, has launched a project aimed at filling these gaps. The Better Gambling Forum is designed as a central hub to collect and provide access to best practices and scientific insights regarding player protection.

Until now, many organizations operated in isolation. Government bodies, non-profits, and private operators each developed their own strategies. The Better Gambling Forum addresses this by serving as a knowledge base for the entire industry. It aims to not only react to symptoms of problematic gambling but to develop prevention models that work across various jurisdictions. It is clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, the goal is to create a menu of options for new markets to utilize.

Numbers and facts

Recent data highlights the urgency of such initiatives. A study by the American Medical Association, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows a distinct trend. Since the 2018 reversal of the federal sports betting ban in the US, national search queries for terms like gambling addiction have risen by 23 percent. The increase was particularly sharp in states like Pennsylvania at 50 percent and Massachusetts at 47 percent. Between January 2016 and June 2024, approximately 6.5 to 7.3 million such Google searches were recorded.

Interestingly, these numbers do not necessarily correlate with higher rates of pathological gambling. In New Jersey, searches rose by 34 percent, yet the problem gambling rate fell from 6.3 percent in 2017 to 5.6 percent in 2021. This suggests that increased awareness and help-seeking may act preventively. Similarly, in the UK and Australia, where digital wagering has been legal for over 20 years, problem gambling rates have remained relatively stable.

Background

The Better Gambling Forum aims to coordinate the dialogue among all stakeholders. Paul Pellizzari emphasizes that the goal is not to set new standards or replace existing bodies. Rather, it is about creating a common framework ranging from mental health to practical on-floor player management.

"What’s missing is something that addresses all aspects of the field, from what operators need to do, what regulators need to do, to the mental health and addiction treatment services. We need a framework that can address what the practices and policies have been, how we understand them, to have better informed dialogues." - Paul Pellizzari, Vice President Global Social Responsibility at Hard Rock International

European nations are taking similar steps. Norway, for example, announced a comprehensive four-year action plan for 2026 through 2029. The objective is to minimize the number of individuals developing gambling problems, with a focus on youth aged 9 to 25. Agencies like Lotteritilsynet work alongside health services to educate on loot boxes in video games and provide free 12-week telephone treatment programs that do not require a GP referral.

Why it matters for German players

This topic is highly relevant for German players, as Germany implemented one of the world's strictest regulatory frameworks with the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling. Concepts discussed in the forum, such as self-exclusion and early detection, are already legal requirements in Germany. Players at licensed operators are connected to the central OASIS database and subject to a 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit monitored by LUGAS. The 1 Euro per spin limit on virtual slots serves as another direct protection measure. The forum's initiatives could help refine German regulations by incorporating international experience without stifling the gaming experience. The goal is early identification via data before financial harm occurs.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Operators with a license from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) are already under intense scrutiny. The work of the forum offers a chance to improve player safety algorithms. While unregulated offshore sites often provide only superficial protection, GGL casinos must prove proactive engagement against addiction. The resource libraries collected by the Better Gambling Forum could help German operators further ground their social concepts in science. The GGL whitelist ensures users that an operator takes this responsibility seriously. As international giants like Hard Rock share their findings, German regulators also benefit from proven prevention methods that go beyond simple prohibitions.