The Better Gambling Forum (BGF) is an international initiative aimed at enhancing player protection and minimizing harm associated with gambling using evidence-based policies and responsible gaming practices.
Launched by the Brain Capital Alliance, the initiative collaborates with global stakeholders, including the G7/G20, United Nations, and World Economic Forum, to develop a shared framework for regulators, operators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to boost player protection globally.
Central to the forum's mission is the Draft Responsible Gambling Practice and Policy Pillars (RG3P) Framework, which proposes a structured strategy aimed at preventing and mitigating gambling-related harm. The framework is poised to set a benchmark for responsible gambling policies, awareness campaigns, treatment options, and regulatory standards around the world.
The BGF recently adopted its UN report, which marked the conclusion of efforts that began at the BGF Collaborative Event in New York City in September 2025. After this event, the draft report underwent two rounds of stakeholder consultations, including a webinar in May 2026. The published final report aims to redefine the framework’s pillars for regulators, health officials, and government stakeholders.
The Better Gambling Forum approaches gambling through both public health and brain health perspectives. Instead of placing emphasis solely on personal responsibility, the framework encourages a cohesive response involving multiple sectors such as government, industry, healthcare, research, and community organizations.
The goal is to foster safer gambling settings while ensuring support services are accessible to individuals facing gambling-related challenges. Although some nations are leaning towards outright bans on certain gambling forms, the BGF acknowledges that many consumers still enjoy gambling, proposing instead to create regulations that lower risks while allowing individuals to partake in gambling activities.
The RG3P Framework and UN Report consist of six core pillars which form the basis of the BGF’s guidance on player protection:
1. **Education, informed choice, and harm prevention**: This pillar emphasizes the importance of providing players with clear information regarding gambling risks to facilitate informed decision-making. It aims to improve awareness of gambling products, odds, and signs indicative of problematic behavior, focusing on harm reduction strategies proactive in nature.
2. **Risk detection and intervention**: The framework supports the implementation of tools and technologies designed to identify harmful gambling trends early on. By monitoring behavioral indicators and facilitating timely interventions, the goal is to assist at-risk individuals before they suffer significant gambling-related harm.
3. **Support, treatment, and recovery**: Ensuring access to effective support services is key to player protection. The BGF highlights the necessity of treatment programs, counseling services, and recovery resources, along with referral pathways, to aid those impacted by gambling harm. Integrating these services with health systems is vital for a holistic support approach.
4. **Gambling environment, product, and marketing standards**: This pillar focuses on regulating the design and operation of gambling products, venues, and their marketing. It advocates for standards that mitigate risks, support safer environments, and ensure responsible marketing that does not target vulnerable populations.
5. **Ethical industry practices and accountability**: The BGF calls for transparency and ethical conduct across the gambling sector. Operators are urged to prioritize player welfare and to demonstrate clear commitments to responsible gambling and consumer protection.
6. **Research, evaluation, and sustainable funding**: Recognizing the necessity of ongoing research into gambling behaviors and risk factors, this pillar also promotes sustainable funding models for prevention, treatment, and evaluation initiatives. Ongoing research is crucial for adapting policies and practices as new evidence comes to light.
One of the major challenges in implementing responsible gambling policies is the disparity in standards across different regions. Some markets have already established comprehensive consumer protection measures while others are still developing theirs. The Better Gambling Forum seeks to address this by offering a reference framework that can be tailored to local contexts while adhering to consistent principles.
By promoting a unified framework, the forum aspires to enhance collaboration among regulators, operators, public health entities, treatment service providers, and researchers, ultimately aiming to decrease gambling-related harm and bolster player protections.
In the upcoming months, the BGF focuses on further promoting the Pillars and UN report at major events and forums. It recently participated in a panel discussion at the UN General Assembly in mid-September and has planned engagements at SBC Lisbon, ICE in Barcelona, and Davos in January 2027.
Additionally, the organization is actively recruiting new members to expand its expertise in player protection. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to establishing internationally recognized standards for responsible gambling, integrating education, early intervention, treatment accessibility, responsible product design, industry accountability, and ongoing research in a comprehensive effort.
