Safer gambling: a shared responsibility

This year we gathered experts from inside and outside of the industry to share ideas on how operators can offer a thrilling gambling experience that is also safe and responsible.

The theme of the 2021 conference was “Safer gambling: a shared responsibility”. We tackled crucial questions, such as:

  • Sustainable gambling – myth or reality?
  • What do we need to do as operators?
  • How can we work closer within and outside the industry?
  • How can we learn from other industries?

Summary

Summary

Highlights

There is a broad consensus that the industry’s profitability, even its very existence, is contingent on becoming sustainable. Operators, regulators and affiliates all need to beware of their impact and align with each other to develop coherent practices and policies.

There is a strong willingness to work together and share information to find the best practices, both between different stakeholders and over different markets. With an increased focus on the behavioural components of gambling, concepts such as nudging could be utilised to propel better habits and safer gambling environments.

Improving the industry’s reputation is an integral part of combating misconceptions and promoting a more constructive dialogue.As the industry moves towards a more evidence-based approach, methods and data collection need to become more reliable. Standardising KPIs and definitions, as well as setting common goals are crucial for the development of sustainable practices

As we look forward, we hope to build on this momentum and, furthermore, add more actions and tangible results.

Media Library

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Event Videos

Agenda – Safer Gambling: An honest conversation

13:00
Lydia Capolicchio

Welcome

Lydia Capolicchio, moderator

13:05
Henrik Tjärnström

Opening remarks

Henrik Tjärnström, CEO Kindred Group

13:15
Maarten Haijer

Safer gambling: Putting accountability and transparency into action

Maarten Haijer, General Secretary European Gaming and Betting Assocation (EGBA)

13:30
Henrik Tjärnström
Patrik Hofbauer
Pontus Lindwall
Johan Törnqvist
Esben Skou Vinther

The industry’s responsibility to protect the customers and provide a safe experience

Panel discussion: Henrik Tjärnström, CEO Kindred Group; Patrik Hofbauer, CEO Svenska Spel; Pontus Lindwall CEO Betsson, Johan Törnqvist, CEO Play’n GO; Esben Skou Vinther, Senior Director, Group Strategy & Execution Better Collective

14:00
Nurit Nobel

Inspirational lecture on “the concept of nudging and how this can be applied on the context of shared responsibility”

Nurit Nobel, Researcher in Economic Psychology and co-founder Impactually

14:30
Janne Elvelid

How to operate in regulated markets – learnings from a social media company

Janne Elvelid, Head of Public Policy, Sweden & Finland Facebook

14:45
Ryan Pitcher
Christopher Gilham
Oscar Berglund
Erik Sprinchorn
Thomas Marcussen
Britt Boeskov
Brigid Simmonds
Peter-Paul de Goeij
Thomas Mattsson
Hubert Rovers

Coming together to provide a more sustainable industry

Panel discussion moderated by Ryan Pitcher and Christopher Gilham, co-hosts of the gambling addiction podcast All Bets Are Off.

Group discussion on “The importance of building trust and managing the issue of gambling responsibility” including Oscar Berglund, CEO Trustly; Erik Sprinchorn, Portfolio Manager Tin Fonder; Thomas Marcussen, Clinical Psychologist Aarhus University Hospital; Britt Boeskov, Chief Experience Officer Kindred Group.

Group discussion on “How to think about responsible gambling advertising?” including Brigid Simmonds, Chairman BGC; Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Director NOGA; Thomas Mattsson, Senior Advisor Bonnier News; Hubert Rovers, CEO EFDN

15:25

TalkBanStop – an example of a shared responsibility initiative

Case video

15:30
Camilla Rosenberg
Christel Fiorina
Anders Dorph
Yanica Sant

The role of the regulator

Camilla Rosenberg, Director-General Swedish Gambling Authority; Christel Fiorina, Head of Markets, Compliance and Player Protection National Gambling Authority, France; Anders Dorph, Director Danish Gambling Authority; Yanica Sant, General Counsel Malta Gaming Authority

Breakout sessions A

15:45
Karim Chikh
Daria Magdoiu

Addressing harmful gambling revenue: Kindred’s journey to 0%

Karim Chikh, Head of Legal and Compliance Analytics Kindred Group and Daria Magdoiu, Responsible Gaming Relationship Manager Kindred Group

16:05
Deniz Cemiloglu
Dr. Raian Ali

Explainable persuasion for more informed play

Deniz Cemiloglu, PhD candidate Bournemouth University, UK and Dr Raian Ail, Professor Hamad Bin Khalifa university, Qatar

16:25
Dr. Mark Griffiths

The evaluation and efficacy of responsible gambling tools using real world data

Dr. Mark D. Griffiths, Professor Nottingham Trent University, UK

Breakout sessions B

15:45
Mark Potter

The importance of lived experience within problem and responsible gambling

Mark Potter, Head of Delivery US EPIC

16:05
Dr. Jonathan Parke

Using real world gambling data to better understand product risk

Dr. Jonathan Parke, Director Sophro Ltd

16:25
Josephine Holloway
 Peter Holloway
Terry White

PGSolutions talk about Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it… the Safer Gambling programme

Josephine Holloway, Peter Holloway and Terry White, co-creators “Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it”

16:45
Henrik Tjärnström

Closing remarks

Henrik Tjärnström, CEO Kindred Group

Speakers

Henrik Tjärnström

Chief Executive Officer

Kindred Group

Patrik Hofbauer

Chief Executive Officer

Svenska Spel

Oscar Berglund

Chief Executive Officer

Trustly

Nurit Nobel

Researcher in Economic Psychology and co-founder Impactually

Pontus Lindwall

Chief Executive Officer

Betsson AB

Esben Skou Vinther

Senior Director, Group Strategy & Execution

Better Collective

Lydia Capolicchio

Moderator

Johan Törnqvist

Chief Executive Officer

Play’n GO

Thomas Mattsson

Senior Advisor

Bonnier News

Deniz Cemiloglu

PhD candidate

Bournemouth University, UK

Maarten Haijer

Secretary General

EGBA

Camilla Rosenberg

Director-General

Swedish Gambling Authority

Janne Elvelid

Head of Public Policy

Sweden & Finland Facebook

Peter-Paul de Goeij

Managing Director

NOGA

Brigid Simmonds

Chairman

BGC

Anders Dorph

Director

Danish Gambling Authority

Yanica Sant

General Counsel

Malta Gaming Authority

Thomas Marcussen

Clinical psychologist

Aarhus University Hospital

Dr. Mark Griffiths

Professor

Nottingham Trent University, UK

Hubert Rovers

Chief Executive Officer

EFDN Foundation

Daria Magdoiu

Responsible Gaming Relationship Manager

Kindred Group

Erik Sprinchorn

Portfolio Manager

Tin Fonder

Britt Boeskov

Chief Experience Officer

Kindred Group

Ryan Pitcher

Co-host of the All Bets Are Off podcast & Commercial Manager for Deal Me Out

Josephine Holloway

Executive Director of PGSolutions Group CIC and Co-Creator of Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it…

Terry White

Co- founder of PGSolutions Group and Co-Creator of

Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it…

Mark Potter

Head of Delivery

EPIC Risk Management

Christopher Gilham

Co-host of the All Bets Are Off podcast and CFO & Commercial Director of TalkGEN

Karim Chikh

Head of Legal and Compliance analytics

Kindred Group

Dr. Jonathan Parke

Director

Sophro Ltd

Dr. Raian Ali

Professor

Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar

Christel Fiorina

Director of Markets

Compliance and Player Protection at the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ)

 Peter Holloway

Executive Director of PGSolutions Group CIC and Co-Creator of Don’t bet YOUR LIFE on it…

About the Sustainable Gambling Conference

The Sustainable Gambling Conference (SGC) is a leading annual event that brings together stakeholders from across the gambling ecosystem – including operators, regulators, researchers, treatment providers, and individuals with lived gambling addiction experience – to foster collaboration and drive innovation in safer gambling practices. Established by FDJ UNITED, the SGC serves as a platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the development of sustainable strategies aimed at minimising gambling-related harm and promoting a safe experience.

Each year, the conference explores a central theme that reflects the evolving challenges and opportunities within the industry. Previous themes have included “Building Relevance” (2019), focusing on increasing the industry’s societal relevance; “Collaborate to Innovate” (2020), emphasising technological advancements for sustainability; and “Safer Gambling: A Look into the Future” (2024), which addressed topics like artificial intelligence, regulatory adaptation, and ethical considerations in the digital age.

The SGC has been hosted in various cities across Europe, underscoring its international reach and commitment to diverse perspectives. Notable locations include Copenhagen (2019), Amsterdam (2022), and London (2024). In 2025, the conference will convene in Brussels under the theme “Collaboration for Impact: Safer Gambling in a Changing World,” aiming to unite global experts to address emerging trends and reinforce collective efforts toward a more responsible gambling environment.

Through its inclusive and forward-thinking approach, the Sustainable Gambling Conference continues to be a catalyst for meaningful change, driving the industry toward greater transparency, accountability, and social responsibility.