Discovery Conference – Exploring the New World of RG

The Discovery Conference, which took place from 19 to 21 October, is an annual event organized by the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada. The objective of the conference is to make the casino industry safer for players and prevent problem gambling. During the three days, experts from the sector discussed topics like new game technology, payment methods, and behaviour tracking.

To explain well what is a Discovery Conference, we have to go back in time. For almost 20 years, the Responsible Gambling Council Conference has gathered gambling experts like operators, regulators, service providers, and organizations. Together, they examine the latest trends and solutions, which help to establish a safer gaming environment for players from all around the world. The 2021 edition of the conference also discussed key topics from the casino industry, which we will summarize in the following sections.

What is a Discovery Conference: Introduction

From 19 to 21 October 2021, the Discovery virtual conference, organized by the RGC Canada, brought together experts from the industry to introduce a positive change in the gambling society. With so many possible options, resisting the attractive offers of today’s gaming world is sometimes challenging for players. Therefore, to support the responsible gambling cause, organizations, operators, and regulators need to find a way to modernize harm prevention strategies.

Due to the post-pandemic situation, this was the first virtual conference done by the RGC. During the three days, there were discussions about gambling and the way it impacts third parties. Another important highlight of the gathering was digital health and resilience in the online world, which sometimes overwhelms players with tempting offers.

RGC Discovery Conference 2021 – Objective and Discussions

The main goal of the RGC Discovery Conference about gambling is to unite industry leaders, including land-based and online casinos from Canada, and find a way to better support players and the gambling community. During the meetings, specialists in diversity, equity, and inclusion shared their knowledge and ideas on creating long-lasting positive changes in the gaming world. Here is a list of the plenary sessions, which took place during the RGC Discovery 2021:

The Discovery Conference 2021 started with a presentation on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Among the most reputable guests was Gayathri Shukla, a diversity and human-centred design expert. In her presentation “The Art of Inclusive Leadership”, she spoke about the importance of creating a diverse and multi-cultural workforce in the gambling market.

Reacting to gambling addiction is a cornerstone for the RGC, which of course, was a key theme during the conference. During the “Promoting Proactivity: The Power of Prevention” session, professors, psychiatrists, researchers, and project officers exposed their strategies for preventing gambling issues. According to the Responsible Gambling Council, with more proactive educational programs, it’s possible to limit potential harms before they emerge.

RGC Discovery 2021 – Honourable Guests

The Discovery Conference assembled industry leaders specializing in areas like responsible gambling, research, technology, video games, and other sectors of the casino industry. One of the lecturers, which we already mentioned, was Gayathri Shukla – a leadership and diversity expert. An Engineer by profession, Gayathri is one of the few women with Indo-Canadian origins, which work in the gambling business. She contributed to the conference by presenting her point of view on the importance of diversity and equity.

The co-founders of the All-In Diversity Project, Kelly Kehn, and Christina Thakor-Rankin also attended the virtual conference. Developed in the UK, their project focuses on creating more tools for the gambling industry., which will support inclusion and workplace equality. To make it happen, the All-In Diversity Project applies experience, practice, and collaboration between its members and partners.

Christina Thakor-Rankin has over 30 years of expertise in gaming operations, regulatory compliance, and money laundering in land-based and online casinos. During the conference, Christina expressed her belief that as the world is constantly evolving, the casino market needs to adapt, embrace, and understand the change to build a safer gaming space for everyone.

More About the Responsible Gambling Council

More than 35 years ago, the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada was founded by Tibor Barsony. A gambler himself, he needed support to fight his gambling addiction but couldn’t find suitable therapy. In 1980, Mr. Barsony met Dr. Robert L. Custer, the founder of the first clinic for the treatment of compulsive gambling in the USA.

Three years later, with an office in his basement and a few dollars in his bank account, Tibor Barsony formed the Canadian Foundation on Compulsive Gambling, which later became the RGC. Over the years, he persuaded governors, operators, regulators, and healthcare organizations, to join his cause of fighting and preventing problem gambling.

In 1994, the RGC hosted the first awareness program at Windsor Casino. One year later, the first conference on problem gambling took place in Canada. Mr. Barsony was also one of the founding members of Gamblers Anonymous in the country. Today, his cause continues to contribute to the gaming society with remarkable success. Every year, the Council also offers a bursary to Canadian students with an outstanding academic contribution in the field of gambling addiction research.

Sponsors of the Discovery Conference RGC

The RGC Discovery Conference wouldn’t be the same without the great support of its sponsors. In this format, casino and sports betting operators, regulators, and investors come together to promote positive play habits, educate the audience, and provide gamblers with the right support tools. Among the supporters of the Responsible Gambling Council Conference were also some of the best US online casinos. Here are all the sponsors of the 2021 edition of the Discovery Conference.

What unites the sponsors of the Discovery Conference 2021 is the goal to make a positive change in responsible gambling through research, discussions, and information sharing. The OLG, for example, launched PlaySmart – a program committed to meeting the highest standards of RG and providing players with the most effective support tools.

FAQs about the Discovery Conference

Thanks to its great success among gambling operators and regulators, the Responsible Gambling Council Discovery Conference is a long-awaited event in the casino industry. In the section below, we will explain in detail what is a Discovery Conference, and answer the most common questions regarding it. Find more information details about the event, its organizers, speakers, sponsors, and more!

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