SGC 2022
Safer gambling: An Honest Conversation
Enjoy the recordings of our 2022 conference by clicking on ‘2022 archive’. Scroll down and read more about the highlights.
Safer gambling: An honest conversation
After two years of digital formats, this year combined a live event in Amsterdam with livestreaming to reach a wider audience. This year’s theme, “Safer gambling: An honest conversation”, recognised the need to invite a vast array of perspectives from the industry and beyond to drive sustainable development. We addressed essential issues among them:
- How can we use responsible gambling research and technology?
- How do we best combat harmful gambling behaviour?
- How can we utilise data sharing despite challenges?
- What’s the industry’s role in sports integrity?
Summary of 2022
Highlights
There is continued consensus that collaboration within the industry to find joint solutions is the way forward. There is a strong willingness among peers to enhance cooperation efforts in order to facilitate the detection of harmful gambling behaviour.
Knowledge sharing and education can serve as an integral element in supporting customers to make more informed decisions and propel sustainable habits. Discussions during the conference demonstrated a broad consensus among participants that customers should be provided with more information as well as tools to encourage self-reflection and responsible gambling behaviours.
Taking responsibility requires seeking out the conversation. Initiating a dialogue with key stakeholders is an essential instrument for the gambling industry to promote transparency and take on a more educational responsibility. Issues like match fixing and its underlying problems requires the entire industry’s full dedication by communicating its responsibilities and commitments through for example marketing campaigns.
We were glad to combine in-person and digital streaming of the SGC 2022 to continue in the spirit of collaboration and inquisitive discussions. Moving forward, we are determined to continue the work to drive action and tangible results.
Selection of key takeaways
Utilising the opportunities for connection and discussion that comes with meeting in person, this year’s conference combined knowledge-sharing and interaction on several levels. Here are some of the main takeaways:
- Taking responsibility means seeking out the conversation
An honest conversation starts with operators addressing problems and finding solutions. Operators, regulators, and affiliates all need to beware of their impact and align with each other to develop coherent practices and policies. Transparency is essential for collaboration – whether it be among operators or between the industry and other prioritised stakeholders such as affiliates or regulators. - Collaboration and finding joint solutions are the ways forward
Partnerships and connections inside and outside the industry are crucial. A key factor for driving change is successfully combining research, technological solutions, and stakeholder dialogue to find best practice. That also includes responsible use of data that ensures privacy. Working to improve the industry’s reputation by showing real results is an integral part of combating misconceptions and in promoting a more constructive dialogue. - Reducing harmful gambling is the long-term solution to enabling everyday entertainment that contributes positively to society.
Building trust for gambling as a source of entertainment that contributes positively to society means addressing the issues. Participants and panellists alike found that the industry’s profitability, even its very existence, is contingent on becoming sustainable.
2022 Event Videos
Agenda – Safer Gambling: An honest conversation
Anoushka Laheij, moderator
Henrik Tjärnström, CEO Kindred Group; Harinder Gill, CRO 888; Hans Lord Skarplöth, CEO ATG, Johan Törnqvist, CEO Play'n GO. Moderator: Anouschka Laheij.
Maarten Haijer, General Secretary European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
Johann Hari, writer and journalist
Panel discussion: Johann Hari, writer and journalist; Karim Chikh, Head of Legal and Compliance Analytics; Matthias Dobbelaere, Director Ministry of Privacy; Trung Huynh, CEO and CTO Actable AI. Moderator: Anouschka Laheij.
Dr. Jonathan Parke, Director Sophro Ltd
Dr. Mark D. Griffiths, Professor Nottingham Trent University
Anna Westh Stenbro, Clinical psychologist and researcher, Research Clinic on Gambling Disorder, Aarhus University Hospital and Jesper Jarl Becker, Producer and Founding Partner, Sweet & Savoury Film Company
Melissa Etherington, Vice President of Partnerships at Gamban.
Hubert Rovers, CEO the European Football for Development Network
Mats Enqvist, CEO and General Secretary Svensk Elitfotboll (Swedish professional football leagues)
Brendan Dowell, Director of Security Kindred Group
Christina Thakor-Rankin, Principal Consultant, 1710Gaming Ltd
Justin Franssen, Kalff Katz & Franssen; Peter-Paul de Goeij, Managing Director Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA); Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO MIndway AI. Moderator: Anouschka Laheij.
Table discussions
Silvia Paleari, Director of Public Affairs The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA); Mats Enquist CEO SEF (Swedish professional football leagues); Evgeniy Levchenko, Chairman VVCS. Moderator: Anoushcka Laheij.
Table discussions
Panel discussion: Craig Cornforth, Harm Prevention Manager EPIC; Feite Hofman, Addiction expert; Claire Donegan, Founder and CEO of THRIVE Recovery; Matt Smith, Head of External Affairs Betknowmore. Moderator: Maris Catania, Head of Responsible Gambling and Research Kindred Group.
Henrik Tjärnström, CEO Kindred Group; Pontus Lindwall, CEO Betsson, Arno de Jong, Nederlandse Loterij; Charles Lantieri, Deputy CEO Française des Jeux. Moderator: Anousckha Lahei.
Speakers
Karim Chikh is the Head of Legal and Compliance analytics at Kindred group. Holder of an MSc in mathematics and computing, he started his career working within the pharmaceutical industry and joined Kindred Group in 2013. His team has been focusing since 2017 on detecting fraud and addiction through the analysis of online players’ behavior.
Dr. Mark Griffiths is a Chartered Psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at the Nottingham Trent University, and Director of the International Gaming Research Unit. He has spent 35 in the field and is internationally known for his work into gambling, gaming, and behavioral addictions. He has published over 1300 refereed research papers, six books, 180+ book chapters and over 1500 other articles. He has won 24 national and international awards for his work including the John Rosecrance Prize (1994), CELEJ Prize (1998), Joseph Lister Prize (2004) and the US National Council on Problem Gambling Lifetime Research Award (2013). He also does a lot of freelance journalism and has appeared on over 3500 radio and television programs and written over 350 articles for national and international newspapers and magazines.
Maris Catania currently occupies the role of Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred. She started as a Risk and Fraud Analyst with Kindred and after receiving her Psychology MSc from the University of Leicester, took on the role of Responsible Gaming Manager. She has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, and is now reading for her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Mark Griffiths, focusing primarily on the analysis of the early signs of online problem gambling, responsible gaming tools and responsible gaming promotion.
Whilst recapitulating research for her role, she has started an innovative detection tool with Kindred, known as PS-EDS (Player Safety – Early Detection System). This has shown an impressive advantage in the company both from a commercial perspective and also internally addressing Corporate Social Responsibility. This same PS-EDS has won the EGr Innovation of the Year award in 2014. The current RG approach within Kindred has also won several industry awards including in 2017 GIA Socially Responsible Operator of the Year, Global Regulatory Awards and Women in Gaming awards in 2017. Maris has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
CEO of Betsson AB - one of the world's leading iGaming companies, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap. It’s nearly impossible to talk about the Swedish iGaming wonder without mentioning Pontus Lindwall. As current CEO and former Chairman of the Board of Betsson AB, as well as founder and former CEO of NetEnt and former CEO of Cherry, Lindwall has helped lay the grounds to the modern Swedish iGaming market and made many of its gaming companies to market leaders in Europe. In addition to being one of the driving forces of the re-regulation of the Swedish gambling market, Lindwall is a passionate cyclist and a devoted DJ.
CEO at Betsson AB
Employed in the Group since 1992.
Board member 2011-2017 and 2021 -
Chairman of the Board 2011-2015 and 2016-September 2017.
Previously CEO and President 1998-2011 and July 2015-February 2016.
Other assignments: Founder and former CEO of NetEnt AB (publ), former CEO of Cherry.
Education: Master of Science, Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
Harinder joined 888 William Hill in August 2022 in a newly created role as the Chief Risk Officer. He has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of Risk and Compliance across the global organisation.
He has 20+ years of experience in risk management working at large financial services organisations including Barclays Bank, Credit Suisse, and Bank of New York. Prior to joining 888 William Hill he was the global Chief Compliance Officer at the digital fintech Revolut.
Johann Hari is the author of three New York Times best-selling books, and the Executive Producer of an Oscar-nominated movie and an eight-part TV series starring Samuel L. Jackson. His books have been translated into 38 languages, and been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky, from Elton John to Naomi Klein.
His latest book, ‘Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention’, was published in January 2022, and received rave reviews everywhere from the Washington Post to the Irish Times to the Sydney Morning Herald. It has been a best-seller on three continents.
Johann’s first book, ‘Chasing the Scream: the First and Last Days of the War on Drugs’, was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film ‘The United States Vs Billie Holiday’. It has also been adapted into a documentary series which is available to view now.
His second book, ‘Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions’ was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association.
Johann’s TED talks have been viewed more than 80 million times. The first is named ‘Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong’. The second is entitled ‘This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious’.
As political scientist I am quickly aware of what is relevant. I ask the right questions, respond to actualities and I am socially involved. You can commission me for live and online sessions/gatherings. I moderate strategic boardroom sessions, participation evenings as well as talk shows.
Next to moderating conversations, you can also ask me to be your conference host for live communication events. I confront and activate/provoke, and create bridges between the substantive subjects, the speakers, and the audience. I easily switch between Dutch and English, as well as between different topics and demographics.
Hans Lord Skarplöth is the CEO of ATG since January 2013. He has an industry background from FMCG and Media and prior to joining ATG he was the CEO at Viasat Norden, payTV operator. He has worked within Finance, Sales, Business Development and in General Management positions since 2008. He is a big fan of sports in general and Swedish soccer star Zlatan in particular. He has been interested in trotting and betting for 20 years, but still consider himself an amateur of the horseracing and betting industry when joining ATG.
Charles Lantieri has been Deputy Chief Executive Officer of FDJ since 2006. He is also Chairman of FDP, a subsidiary which distributes lottery and betting games in mainland France, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FDJ Services, a subsidiary having a collection activity on behalf of third parties and Chairman of the FDJ Corporate Foundation.
Charles Lantieri joined FDJ while working as Head of Department and Deputy Budget Director at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, where he spent the first part of his career. He performed a range of functions at the Ministry, steering budgetary policy, preparing and implementing finance laws, as well as conducting public management reforms. He began his career at Insee (The national institute of statistics and economis studies), where he conducted macroeconomic modelling studies and medium-term forecasts.
Charles Lantieri has also served as director of several companies (Gaz de France, France Télévision, La Poste, Agence France presse, etc.) and of institutions such as Institut Pasteur and École polytechnique.
Born in 1961, Charles Lantieri is a graduate of École polytechnique and the Ensae.
Peter-Paul de Goeij is the managing director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), the Dutch trade association for online gambling operators. NOGA aspires to achieve and promote a safe, responsible and attractive online gambling offering in the Netherlands.
Next to MD of NOGA, De Goeij is a member of the Advisory Board of the All-in Diversity Project, member of the advisory board of Dutch quality mark for affiliates KVA and he is also the founder of Quod Bonum Consulting, an independent Dutch IT & telecom, gambling and lottery consulting firm, drawing on his 20+ years’ experience in the fields of general management, licence application, legal and regulatory and public affairs. In this capacity he currently advises Digicel Group on legal, regulatory and public affairs.
Before starting Quod Bonum, Peter-Paul broke the Dutch lottery monopoly and in June 2018 launched the first new lottery in almost 30 years. For the ZEAL Group he also spearheaded several other successful licence applications throughout Europe and he stood at the cradle of new charity lottery UNICEF-lotteriet in Norway. Prior to joining the ZEAL Group in February 2013, De Goeij built up a track record in the telecommunications industry in Europe, in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific region, where he acted in various senior and general management roles with BT Group, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Digicel Group.
Photographer: Leonard Fäustle
Rasmus Kjaergaard has been CEO of Mindway AI since December 2019.
Mindway AI is a Danish founded, now international and award-winning software company 100% focused developing and providing innovative tech solutions for fully automatic detection and monitoring of at-risk and problem gambling behavior.
Based on neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and human expert assessments' Mindway AI works with gambling operators, incl. Entain, Flutter, and Holland Casino, platform providers, regulators, and governments to provide state-of-the-art solutions. This includes GameScanner a 'Virtual Psychologist' AI-based solution for earlier, more individualized, and enhanced detection, customer service, and intervention on gambling behavior. GameScanner is ready for fulfilling the new LCCP rules outlined by the UKGC coming into force September ‘22. The other solution is Gamalyze, a neuroscience-based gamification self-test as a card game, much more engaging, proactive, and less sensitive compared to traditional self-test questionnaires.
Rasmus has 20+ years of experience in commercially developing businesses based on complex B-to-B IT-solutions. He has also participated in commercially developing of another Danish IT-startup business from a small company to market leader with all the aspects regarding customer relationships, marketing, delivery of the IT solutions to the customers and supporting the customers afterwards at a very high customer service level.
My background is within IT and business development. In later years I have more and more moved over to sports, in particular golf and football, for my professional engagement.
Currently my main task is to manage and develop the top two Swedish Leagues, Allsvenskan and Superettan. Our head sponsor has for over 80 years been a gaming company, first ”Svenska Spel” and now since 2020 it is Unibet. I have therefore a wide experience of sports and of co-operation with gaming companies. My strong belief is that a responsible co-operation is the best way to work between sports and betting companies. I aim to share some of those experiences in Amsterdam.
Dr. Jonathan Parke is the director of Sophro Ltd, an independent research consultancy exploring gambling behaviour and gambling harms. Jonathan publishes widely on these topics and is currently leading on some of the most innovative safer gambling projects in the field. Over the last two decades, he has examined a variety of issues in gambling studies including game design, gambling motivation, harm mitigation and the use of behavioural science in reducing risk. His previous roles include: Director of Commissioning for the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) and research positions at the International Gambling Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, and the Centre for the Study of Gambling University of Salford in the UK’’
Matt Smith is Head of External Affairs for UK charity Betknowmore and has lived experience of gambling with 8 years in continuous recovery this November.
Matt is now part of the senior management team at Betknowmore building relationships with stakeholders across the space and working across their communications and policy strategy.
His working background was in the media industry where he spent over a decade working in management for UK radio station talkSPORT heading up major live sports events. During the latter part of his time there was when his gambling became problematic.
Hubert is the founder of EFDN and is an international CSR and football for development consultant. In his position at EFDN and as a consultant, he supports clubs and other football organisations with the setup and development of their CSR policy, M&E protocols, community projects and fundraising activities. Hubert has been active in the football for development sector since 2007 and has gained his experience as CEO of the Community Foundation of NAC Breda and as project manager of the Dutch “More than Football” Foundation. Since 2014, he has grown EFDN to over 150 professional clubs, leagues and FA’s from 32 European countries. Additionally, Hubert is the Chair of Show Racism the Red Card the Netherlands, a Dutch organisation focussed on educating children and adults on anti-racism.
Melissa is Vice President of Partnerships at Gamban, an application that blocks access to online gambling, providing those struggling with an extra tool for the toolbelt on their recovery journey. Melissa works extensively with governmental bodies, treatment support providers and commercial organisations globally, guiding on best practice for distribution and strategy in online gambling self-exclusion, enhancing and improving protection for at-risk gamblers. Through connecting schemes, tools and initiatives, Melissa works to accelerate positive change to ensure that recovery from problem gambling is both possible and achievable.
Trung is the founder, CEO and CTO of Actable AI, a startup that offers AI and Advanced Analytics SaaS. With Actable AI, analysts can easily analyze or build predictive and causal models while making sure their predictions are least biased. Before founding Actable AI, Trung worked at multiple organizations such as Google, Goldman Sachs and Palantir as a data scientist and software engineer. Trung also holds a Master degree in Computer Science and a PhD in AI and Natural Language Processing.
Long before he was appointed CEO in 2010, Henrik Tjärnström was a part of the Kindred Group (then Unibet Group). Henrik joined the Board of Directors in 2003 and was part of the Board until 2008 where he stepped into the role as Chief Financial Officer for the Group. He holds a MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Sweden. Before joining the Kindred Group, Henrik was employed as Senior Financial Manager at Skanska Infrastructure Development AB from 2001 to 2008.
Brendan Dowell is the Director of security at Kindred Group where he has worked in a variety of positions covering a range of disciplines in the field of cyber security since 2011. His focus is on simplifying the complex field of cyber security through building effective foundational security programs with an emphasis on resilience over compliance.
Maarten Haijer is the Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), representing the leading online gambling operators licensed and regulated in the EU. Before joining the EGBA as director for regulatory affairs, Maarten worked as the internal market and consumer protection counsellor at the Netherlands permanent representation to the EU. Prior to that he held several positions in the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, dealing predominantly with EU and WTO trade policy issues.
Claire Donegan is the Founder and CEO of THRIVE Recovery, a not-for-profit organisation providing support services to people experiencing gambling harm.
Using her own lived experience of gambling disorder, professional coaching skills, and extensive knowledge of the gambling landscape, Claire has created a recovery programme that is accessible for all users.
Claire is also the Administrator for ALERTS (Affected Lived Experience Research Treatment & Support), a lived experience panel dedicated to improving the effectiveness and accessibility of treatment and support services across the UK.
Johan Törnqvist co-founded Play’n GO in 2005 and as CEO has seen the company remain at the forefront of the gaming industry thanks to the simple ambition to be the best gaming entertainment supplier there is.
Play’n GO leads the industry through our carefully crafted portfolio of over 300 well-loved games, enjoyed by millions across the world. With compatibility in over 25 regulated jurisdictions globally, including launching recently in the US and Canada, we supply games to the largest operators in the industry. Play’n GO are entertainers, first and foremost, and that will always shape what we do, what markets we enter, and what kinds of games we make.
Tom is Head of Corporate Affairs UK/Global at Kindred Group, working with stakeholders across the sector and beyond to build partnerships and promote Kindred's role in creating a more sustainable industry. Prior to joining Kindred Group, Tom spent almost a decade working in the UK political sector - for a leading policy and research agency and on some of the UK's biggest election campaigns - including the General Election in 2010 and 2015, as well as the 2016 EU Referendum.
Working with research in the cross-section between gaming and gambling since 2019. Recently, she has been the primary content developer on a nationwide Gambling Disorder prevention platform, "Spil for Livet", aiming to elicit open conversations on gambling and gambling-related harm among Danish teenagers.
Silvia joined the International Betting Integrity Association in 2018, having previously worked with the association as external consultant for four years. Silvia has extensive knowledge of national, international, and European public affairs, having worked in this domain for a decade. She represents the association in European fora such as the European Commission and the European Parliament and also supported the involvement of IBIA the EU-funded Erasmus+ projects.
Jesper Jarl was the producer & project manager behind “Tell it like it is!”. The project, which was the biggest of its kind to date in Denmark, focused on alcoholism, domestic violence & mental illness and was developed in collaboration with Save the Children. With three short fiction films, supporting educational material & a lecturing tour covering 95 of 98 Danish Municipalities the project presented these subjects directly to some 25.000 danish kids and youngsters between 2014-2017.
Aside from the work with educational projects Jesper is a founding partner at Sweet & Savory Film Company producing documentaries on gastronomy and sports. Their films have been selected for numerous festivals and received multiple awards within recent years.
Feite Hofman had suffered from a gambling disorder for a number of years and has stopped gambling in 2010 where he worked with Gamblers Anonymous in the Netherlands to manage this. Feite also completed the addiction expert training "Beroepsopleiding tot verslavingsdeskundige" in 2021.
He is currently the chairman of the foundation AGOG in the Netherlands and helps other people who have developed a gambling disorder through meetings with this same organisation. He has initiated the organisation 'Pas op Gamen en Gokken' which is an awareness organisation that helps educating teachers and students about the potential issues that result from gambling.
Craig joined EPIC in November 2021, bringing with him over three decades of experience of sales management in the motor trade throughout the North East.
Craig will be sharing his story of ferocious gambling addiction which ultimately led to the loss of his home, relationship and job. Following his last bet in October 2017, Craig has shared his ongoing recovery in a number of spaces both in the face to face environment and online. His lived experience story will be given a wider exposure as part of the EPIC Safer Gambling team.
Justin Franssen is an attorney at law and partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen, where he leads the Gaming Practice. His comprehensive advisory and litigation practice regularly deals with sector-specific acquisitions and complex public affairs processes.
Prior to his admission to the Dutch Bar, Justin acted as general counsel for a gaming developer in Amsterdam and New York. His career as an attorney at law began at an associate firm of KPMG, where he founded their European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group. He subsequently spent 12 years as head of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at a medium-sized law firm in Amsterdam.
Justin regularly publishes in national and international professional journals, is a frequent speaker at sector events and conferences, and is on the editorial boards of Gaming Law Review & Economics and Online Gambling Lawyer. He is a board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Justin is also member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn.
Justin has received no less than eight consecutive Band 1 rankings in the Chambers Global Guide.
Karim Chikh is the Head of Legal and Compliance analytics at Kindred group. Holder of an MSc in mathematics and computing, he started his career working within the pharmaceutical industry and joined Kindred Group in 2013. His team has been focusing since 2017 on detecting fraud and addiction through the analysis of online players’ behavior.
Johann Hari is the author of three New York Times best-selling books, and the Executive Producer of an Oscar-nominated movie and an eight-part TV series starring Samuel L. Jackson. His books have been translated into 38 languages, and been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky, from Elton John to Naomi Klein.
His latest book, ‘Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention’, was published in January 2022, and received rave reviews everywhere from the Washington Post to the Irish Times to the Sydney Morning Herald. It has been a best-seller on three continents.
Johann’s first book, ‘Chasing the Scream: the First and Last Days of the War on Drugs’, was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film ‘The United States Vs Billie Holiday’. It has also been adapted into a documentary series which is available to view now.
His second book, ‘Lost Connections: Uncovering The Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions’ was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association.
Johann’s TED talks have been viewed more than 80 million times. The first is named ‘Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong’. The second is entitled ‘This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious’.
My background is within IT and business development. In later years I have more and more moved over to sports, in particular golf and football, for my professional engagement.
Currently my main task is to manage and develop the top two Swedish Leagues, Allsvenskan and Superettan. Our head sponsor has for over 80 years been a gaming company, first ”Svenska Spel” and now since 2020 it is Unibet. I have therefore a wide experience of sports and of co-operation with gaming companies. My strong belief is that a responsible co-operation is the best way to work between sports and betting companies. I aim to share some of those experiences in Amsterdam.
Long before he was appointed CEO in 2010, Henrik Tjärnström was a part of the Kindred Group (then Unibet Group). Henrik joined the Board of Directors in 2003 and was part of the Board until 2008 where he stepped into the role as Chief Financial Officer for the Group. He holds a MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Institute of Technology, Linköping University, Sweden. Before joining the Kindred Group, Henrik was employed as Senior Financial Manager at Skanska Infrastructure Development AB from 2001 to 2008.
Working with research in the cross-section between gaming and gambling since 2019. Recently, she has been the primary content developer on a nationwide Gambling Disorder prevention platform, "Spil for Livet", aiming to elicit open conversations on gambling and gambling-related harm among Danish teenagers.
Dr. Mark Griffiths is a Chartered Psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at the Nottingham Trent University, and Director of the International Gaming Research Unit. He has spent 35 in the field and is internationally known for his work into gambling, gaming, and behavioral addictions. He has published over 1300 refereed research papers, six books, 180+ book chapters and over 1500 other articles. He has won 24 national and international awards for his work including the John Rosecrance Prize (1994), CELEJ Prize (1998), Joseph Lister Prize (2004) and the US National Council on Problem Gambling Lifetime Research Award (2013). He also does a lot of freelance journalism and has appeared on over 3500 radio and television programs and written over 350 articles for national and international newspapers and magazines.
As political scientist I am quickly aware of what is relevant. I ask the right questions, respond to actualities and I am socially involved. You can commission me for live and online sessions/gatherings. I moderate strategic boardroom sessions, participation evenings as well as talk shows.
Next to moderating conversations, you can also ask me to be your conference host for live communication events. I confront and activate/provoke, and create bridges between the substantive subjects, the speakers, and the audience. I easily switch between Dutch and English, as well as between different topics and demographics.
Dr. Jonathan Parke is the director of Sophro Ltd, an independent research consultancy exploring gambling behaviour and gambling harms. Jonathan publishes widely on these topics and is currently leading on some of the most innovative safer gambling projects in the field. Over the last two decades, he has examined a variety of issues in gambling studies including game design, gambling motivation, harm mitigation and the use of behavioural science in reducing risk. His previous roles include: Director of Commissioning for the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) and research positions at the International Gambling Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, and the Centre for the Study of Gambling University of Salford in the UK’’
Brendan Dowell is the Director of security at Kindred Group where he has worked in a variety of positions covering a range of disciplines in the field of cyber security since 2011. His focus is on simplifying the complex field of cyber security through building effective foundational security programs with an emphasis on resilience over compliance.
Silvia joined the International Betting Integrity Association in 2018, having previously worked with the association as external consultant for four years. Silvia has extensive knowledge of national, international, and European public affairs, having worked in this domain for a decade. She represents the association in European fora such as the European Commission and the European Parliament and also supported the involvement of IBIA the EU-funded Erasmus+ projects.
Maris Catania currently occupies the role of Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred. She started as a Risk and Fraud Analyst with Kindred and after receiving her Psychology MSc from the University of Leicester, took on the role of Responsible Gaming Manager. She has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, and is now reading for her PhD under the supervision of Prof. Mark Griffiths, focusing primarily on the analysis of the early signs of online problem gambling, responsible gaming tools and responsible gaming promotion.
Whilst recapitulating research for her role, she has started an innovative detection tool with Kindred, known as PS-EDS (Player Safety – Early Detection System). This has shown an impressive advantage in the company both from a commercial perspective and also internally addressing Corporate Social Responsibility. This same PS-EDS has won the EGr Innovation of the Year award in 2014. The current RG approach within Kindred has also won several industry awards including in 2017 GIA Socially Responsible Operator of the Year, Global Regulatory Awards and Women in Gaming awards in 2017. Maris has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
Hans Lord Skarplöth is the CEO of ATG since January 2013. He has an industry background from FMCG and Media and prior to joining ATG he was the CEO at Viasat Norden, payTV operator. He has worked within Finance, Sales, Business Development and in General Management positions since 2008. He is a big fan of sports in general and Swedish soccer star Zlatan in particular. He has been interested in trotting and betting for 20 years, but still consider himself an amateur of the horseracing and betting industry when joining ATG.
Matt Smith is Head of External Affairs for UK charity Betknowmore and has lived experience of gambling with 8 years in continuous recovery this November.
Matt is now part of the senior management team at Betknowmore building relationships with stakeholders across the space and working across their communications and policy strategy.
His working background was in the media industry where he spent over a decade working in management for UK radio station talkSPORT heading up major live sports events. During the latter part of his time there was when his gambling became problematic.
Maarten Haijer is the Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), representing the leading online gambling operators licensed and regulated in the EU. Before joining the EGBA as director for regulatory affairs, Maarten worked as the internal market and consumer protection counsellor at the Netherlands permanent representation to the EU. Prior to that he held several positions in the Dutch ministry of economic affairs, dealing predominantly with EU and WTO trade policy issues.
Jesper Jarl was the producer & project manager behind “Tell it like it is!”. The project, which was the biggest of its kind to date in Denmark, focused on alcoholism, domestic violence & mental illness and was developed in collaboration with Save the Children. With three short fiction films, supporting educational material & a lecturing tour covering 95 of 98 Danish Municipalities the project presented these subjects directly to some 25.000 danish kids and youngsters between 2014-2017.
Aside from the work with educational projects Jesper is a founding partner at Sweet & Savory Film Company producing documentaries on gastronomy and sports. Their films have been selected for numerous festivals and received multiple awards within recent years.
CEO of Betsson AB - one of the world's leading iGaming companies, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap. It’s nearly impossible to talk about the Swedish iGaming wonder without mentioning Pontus Lindwall. As current CEO and former Chairman of the Board of Betsson AB, as well as founder and former CEO of NetEnt and former CEO of Cherry, Lindwall has helped lay the grounds to the modern Swedish iGaming market and made many of its gaming companies to market leaders in Europe. In addition to being one of the driving forces of the re-regulation of the Swedish gambling market, Lindwall is a passionate cyclist and a devoted DJ.
CEO at Betsson AB
Employed in the Group since 1992.
Board member 2011-2017 and 2021 -
Chairman of the Board 2011-2015 and 2016-September 2017.
Previously CEO and President 1998-2011 and July 2015-February 2016.
Other assignments: Founder and former CEO of NetEnt AB (publ), former CEO of Cherry.
Education: Master of Science, Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
Charles Lantieri has been Deputy Chief Executive Officer of FDJ since 2006. He is also Chairman of FDP, a subsidiary which distributes lottery and betting games in mainland France, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FDJ Services, a subsidiary having a collection activity on behalf of third parties and Chairman of the FDJ Corporate Foundation.
Charles Lantieri joined FDJ while working as Head of Department and Deputy Budget Director at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, where he spent the first part of his career. He performed a range of functions at the Ministry, steering budgetary policy, preparing and implementing finance laws, as well as conducting public management reforms. He began his career at Insee (The national institute of statistics and economis studies), where he conducted macroeconomic modelling studies and medium-term forecasts.
Charles Lantieri has also served as director of several companies (Gaz de France, France Télévision, La Poste, Agence France presse, etc.) and of institutions such as Institut Pasteur and École polytechnique.
Born in 1961, Charles Lantieri is a graduate of École polytechnique and the Ensae.
Hubert is the founder of EFDN and is an international CSR and football for development consultant. In his position at EFDN and as a consultant, he supports clubs and other football organisations with the setup and development of their CSR policy, M&E protocols, community projects and fundraising activities. Hubert has been active in the football for development sector since 2007 and has gained his experience as CEO of the Community Foundation of NAC Breda and as project manager of the Dutch “More than Football” Foundation. Since 2014, he has grown EFDN to over 150 professional clubs, leagues and FA’s from 32 European countries. Additionally, Hubert is the Chair of Show Racism the Red Card the Netherlands, a Dutch organisation focussed on educating children and adults on anti-racism.
Claire Donegan is the Founder and CEO of THRIVE Recovery, a not-for-profit organisation providing support services to people experiencing gambling harm.
Using her own lived experience of gambling disorder, professional coaching skills, and extensive knowledge of the gambling landscape, Claire has created a recovery programme that is accessible for all users.
Claire is also the Administrator for ALERTS (Affected Lived Experience Research Treatment & Support), a lived experience panel dedicated to improving the effectiveness and accessibility of treatment and support services across the UK.
Feite Hofman had suffered from a gambling disorder for a number of years and has stopped gambling in 2010 where he worked with Gamblers Anonymous in the Netherlands to manage this. Feite also completed the addiction expert training "Beroepsopleiding tot verslavingsdeskundige" in 2021.
He is currently the chairman of the foundation AGOG in the Netherlands and helps other people who have developed a gambling disorder through meetings with this same organisation. He has initiated the organisation 'Pas op Gamen en Gokken' which is an awareness organisation that helps educating teachers and students about the potential issues that result from gambling.
Harinder joined 888 William Hill in August 2022 in a newly created role as the Chief Risk Officer. He has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of Risk and Compliance across the global organisation.
He has 20+ years of experience in risk management working at large financial services organisations including Barclays Bank, Credit Suisse, and Bank of New York. Prior to joining 888 William Hill he was the global Chief Compliance Officer at the digital fintech Revolut.
Peter-Paul de Goeij is the managing director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), the Dutch trade association for online gambling operators. NOGA aspires to achieve and promote a safe, responsible and attractive online gambling offering in the Netherlands.
Next to MD of NOGA, De Goeij is a member of the Advisory Board of the All-in Diversity Project, member of the advisory board of Dutch quality mark for affiliates KVA and he is also the founder of Quod Bonum Consulting, an independent Dutch IT & telecom, gambling and lottery consulting firm, drawing on his 20+ years’ experience in the fields of general management, licence application, legal and regulatory and public affairs. In this capacity he currently advises Digicel Group on legal, regulatory and public affairs.
Before starting Quod Bonum, Peter-Paul broke the Dutch lottery monopoly and in June 2018 launched the first new lottery in almost 30 years. For the ZEAL Group he also spearheaded several other successful licence applications throughout Europe and he stood at the cradle of new charity lottery UNICEF-lotteriet in Norway. Prior to joining the ZEAL Group in February 2013, De Goeij built up a track record in the telecommunications industry in Europe, in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific region, where he acted in various senior and general management roles with BT Group, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Digicel Group.
Photographer: Leonard Fäustle
Melissa is Vice President of Partnerships at Gamban, an application that blocks access to online gambling, providing those struggling with an extra tool for the toolbelt on their recovery journey. Melissa works extensively with governmental bodies, treatment support providers and commercial organisations globally, guiding on best practice for distribution and strategy in online gambling self-exclusion, enhancing and improving protection for at-risk gamblers. Through connecting schemes, tools and initiatives, Melissa works to accelerate positive change to ensure that recovery from problem gambling is both possible and achievable.
Johan Törnqvist co-founded Play’n GO in 2005 and as CEO has seen the company remain at the forefront of the gaming industry thanks to the simple ambition to be the best gaming entertainment supplier there is.
Play’n GO leads the industry through our carefully crafted portfolio of over 300 well-loved games, enjoyed by millions across the world. With compatibility in over 25 regulated jurisdictions globally, including launching recently in the US and Canada, we supply games to the largest operators in the industry. Play’n GO are entertainers, first and foremost, and that will always shape what we do, what markets we enter, and what kinds of games we make.
Craig joined EPIC in November 2021, bringing with him over three decades of experience of sales management in the motor trade throughout the North East.
Craig will be sharing his story of ferocious gambling addiction which ultimately led to the loss of his home, relationship and job. Following his last bet in October 2017, Craig has shared his ongoing recovery in a number of spaces both in the face to face environment and online. His lived experience story will be given a wider exposure as part of the EPIC Safer Gambling team.
Rasmus Kjaergaard has been CEO of Mindway AI since December 2019.
Mindway AI is a Danish founded, now international and award-winning software company 100% focused developing and providing innovative tech solutions for fully automatic detection and monitoring of at-risk and problem gambling behavior.
Based on neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and human expert assessments' Mindway AI works with gambling operators, incl. Entain, Flutter, and Holland Casino, platform providers, regulators, and governments to provide state-of-the-art solutions. This includes GameScanner a 'Virtual Psychologist' AI-based solution for earlier, more individualized, and enhanced detection, customer service, and intervention on gambling behavior. GameScanner is ready for fulfilling the new LCCP rules outlined by the UKGC coming into force September ‘22. The other solution is Gamalyze, a neuroscience-based gamification self-test as a card game, much more engaging, proactive, and less sensitive compared to traditional self-test questionnaires.
Rasmus has 20+ years of experience in commercially developing businesses based on complex B-to-B IT-solutions. He has also participated in commercially developing of another Danish IT-startup business from a small company to market leader with all the aspects regarding customer relationships, marketing, delivery of the IT solutions to the customers and supporting the customers afterwards at a very high customer service level.
Trung is the founder, CEO and CTO of Actable AI, a startup that offers AI and Advanced Analytics SaaS. With Actable AI, analysts can easily analyze or build predictive and causal models while making sure their predictions are least biased. Before founding Actable AI, Trung worked at multiple organizations such as Google, Goldman Sachs and Palantir as a data scientist and software engineer. Trung also holds a Master degree in Computer Science and a PhD in AI and Natural Language Processing.
Tom is Head of Corporate Affairs UK/Global at Kindred Group, working with stakeholders across the sector and beyond to build partnerships and promote Kindred's role in creating a more sustainable industry. Prior to joining Kindred Group, Tom spent almost a decade working in the UK political sector - for a leading policy and research agency and on some of the UK's biggest election campaigns - including the General Election in 2010 and 2015, as well as the 2016 EU Referendum.
Justin Franssen is an attorney at law and partner at Kalff Katz & Franssen, where he leads the Gaming Practice. His comprehensive advisory and litigation practice regularly deals with sector-specific acquisitions and complex public affairs processes.
Prior to his admission to the Dutch Bar, Justin acted as general counsel for a gaming developer in Amsterdam and New York. His career as an attorney at law began at an associate firm of KPMG, where he founded their European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group. He subsequently spent 12 years as head of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at a medium-sized law firm in Amsterdam.
Justin regularly publishes in national and international professional journals, is a frequent speaker at sector events and conferences, and is on the editorial boards of Gaming Law Review & Economics and Online Gambling Lawyer. He is a board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Justin is also member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn.
Justin has received no less than eight consecutive Band 1 rankings in the Chambers Global Guide.
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.