IAGR 2026 Lima

The evolving nature of sports betting and competition manipulation, driven by commercialisation and technology, presents complex and globalised risks beyond the control of any single stakeholder.
Australia’s mature, well-regulated gambling environment helps reduce the appeal of domestic markets to criminal syndicates. However, the growing complexity and scale of sports betting demand proactive management of integrity risks.
This session will examine how Sport Integrity Australia is addressing match-fixing and betting-related corruption, both domestically and internationally. It will outline key measures, including national match-fixing laws, a transition to a national platform, and sport-specific policies to strengthen Australia’s defences against these threats.

The Danish Gambling Authority has introduced new regulatory powers to strengthen its response to match-fixing — placing data at the centre of detection, investigation and international cooperation.
This presentation outlines how Denmark is using mandatory reporting, unique player identification and detailed betting data to monitor the market in real-time, assess risk and respond swiftly to suspicious activity. It also explores the opportunities and challenges of data sharing between regulators to address this global issue more effectively.

Since opening its online gambling market in 2021, the Netherlands has rapidly developed a more expansive regulatory approach. This session with the Dutch Gambling Authority will explore how and why that shift occurred and what other jurisdictions can learn from the transition.
With a newly released government vision now prioritising the prevention of gambling harm beyond individual player protection, the session will examine the market dynamics that prompted this change, and how Dutch policy is adapting. The discussion will also explore future regulatory directions and opportunities for international collaboration to create safer gambling environments.

As digital transformation accelerates across gambling markets, regulators face growing pressure to strengthen player protection while supporting sustainable industry growth. This session will explore how artificial intelligence and behavioural analytics are transforming responsible gambling through early risk detection and personalised interventions.
Drawing on real-world examples and academic collaborations, we’ll examine how AI systems analyse behavioural indicators to identify at-risk players before serious harm occurs. We’ll also share insights from ongoing research into the effectiveness of AI-driven interventions, including how different approaches to messaging influence player behaviour.
The discussion will cover emerging applications of AI, from 24/7 personalised chatbots to sentiment analysis and reinforcement learning, and highlight how over 20 jurisdictions have already integrated behavioural analytics into regulation.
Attendees will gain practical recommendations for fostering collaboration among regulators, operators and researchers to develop ethical standards for AI, support data sharing and ensure that technology complements—not replaces—human expertise.

Gambling addiction is a rising public health issue across Africa, worsened by limited awareness, cultural stigma and the rapid spread of online betting platforms. This session explores the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups in Africa, especially young people, and examines how unregulated markets contribute to harm.

Drawing on regional insights, Joy will highlight effective strategies — including culturally tailored awareness campaigns, community-based recovery models and tech-driven responsible gambling tools — offering practical ideas for regulators.

As gambling advertising becomes increasingly embedded in sports, regulators worldwide face growing challenges in balancing industry interests with consumer protection. This presentation highlights findings from multiple studies we conducted, analysing gambling marketing across soccer (Premier League, UEFA Euro 2024), basketball (NBA), ice hockey (NHL), rugby, and cricket, examining its prevalence, regulatory gaps, and potential policy responses.
Our research, conducted across the UK, US, Canada (Ontario), South Africa, and Europe, investigates gambling advertising across live sports broadcasts, news coverage, radio, and social media platforms. Findings reveal the significant scale and reach of gambling marketing, for example, with 29,145 gambling messages recorded during the UK’s 2024 Premier League opening weekend alone — a 165% increase from 2023, despite additional regulations. In Canada, gambling logos were visible for over a fifth of NHL and NBA match broadcasts, while social media gambling promotions generated millions of impressions. In the US, 58% of sports betting ads on social media were not clearly identifiable as advertising, posing challenges for transparency and consumer protection. Meanwhile, emerging data from South Africa highlights the growing integration of gambling sponsorships across major sports, including cricket, rugby and soccer.

These findings suggest that current regulatory measures seem insufficient in reducing the volume of gambling marketing — as well as its associated harms relating to high exposure. While efforts such as advertising codes and self-regulation exist, they struggle to keep pace with evolving marketing strategies, particularly in digital spaces. This presentation will outline key regulatory challenges, international case studies, and potential strategies for enhancing oversight, transparency, and harm reduction. By fostering a dialogue between researchers and policymakers, this session aims to support the development of evidence-based, adaptive regulatory approaches that can better address the complexities of gambling marketing in sports.

How can regulators and operators balance commercial goals with meaningful harm prevention? This session from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission explores early steps taken to examine player wager limits and VIP programs through a lens of sustainability. Mark Vander Linden and Carrie Torrisi from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will share insights into their review of operator practices and discuss how regulatory frameworks might evolve to better manage risk while supporting a healthy gambling environment.

Traditional responsible gambling tools often assume rational player decision-making — but neuroscience suggests otherwise.
This session introduces a new approach grounded in the brain’s stress and reward systems, exploring how AI-driven microbreaks and neuroentertainment can interrupt compulsive gambling behaviour in real time. Drawing on three years of data, the presentation will outline the Survival Optimization System (SOS) framework, share findings from Casino.NL trials, and show how mood-regulating digital resets can improve decision-making without disrupting play.
Challenging conventional RG models, this session offers a science-backed case for reframing responsible gambling as both a regulatory priority and a strategic advantage.

This session explores how AI and behavioural science are transforming responsible gambling. Using real-world examples, Mindway AI will demonstrate how tools like GameScanner and Gamalyze help identify at-risk players, support early intervention and improve regulatory compliance. Attendees will gain insight into the latest developments in AI-driven risk profiling and how these technologies can support safer gambling across markets and jurisdictions.

As gambling, investing and gaming converge to create new and exciting products, what can we understand about their propensity to create harm, and what must we do to prevent problems?

The gaming industry is often labelled a laggard in adopting new technology. This can be both a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, laws and regulations may have more time to adapt, if necessary. On the downside, by the time technology is adopted, newer tools may already be out. This session will examine examples of technology in our industry, where we were and where we still are. We will look ahead at what is currently being deployed and what may be on the horizon, and outline what legislators, regulators, suppliers and operators should take into consideration. We’ll also explore how standards and best practice can help ease implementation in a highly regulated industry.