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The Responsible Gambling Council and International Center for Responsible Gaming unite expertise to reduce gambling harm through evidence-based solutions.
Mar 13, 2026 · 7 min read
Two of North America's leading responsible gambling organizations have formalized a strategic partnership to advance harm prevention research, education, and policy on a global scale. The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) and the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) announced their collaboration will make its public debut at Discovery 2026 in Toronto.
The partnership unites the expertise of two independent non-profits that have built significant credibility in the responsible gambling space. RGC, which has been operating for more than 40 years, brings extensive harm prevention programs and policy expertise, while ICRG, founded in 1996, contributes world-class research capabilities as the only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling in the United States.
The partnership will be prominently featured at Discovery 2026, RGC's flagship annual conference taking place April 14 to 16 in Toronto, and themed "Diverse Voices, Shared Innovation: Preventing Gambling Harm Through Collective Action." ICRG representatives will participate as featured partners, with both organizations co-presenting a joint session as part of the conference program. Discovery 2026 is expected to convene more than 300 delegates from across Canada and internationally. Participants will represent regulators, operators, researchers, treatment providers, community organizations, and people with lived experience.
"Our partnership with ICRG reflects what we believe at the heart of RGC's mission: that preventing gambling harm requires all of us working together across borders and disciplines. ICRG brings world-class research credibility and an invaluable network of scientists and clinicians. Together, we can do more to turn evidence into action and ensure that responsible gambling standards keep pace with a rapidly evolving landscape."
— Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council
The Discovery conference has established itself as Canada's premier forum for responsible gambling knowledge exchange. In 2025, the conference hosted 306 delegates from 10 countries over three days, demonstrating its growing international reach and influence within the responsible gambling ecosystem.
40+ years
RGC Operating History
1,996
ICRG Founded
April 14-16
Discovery 2026 Dates
300+
Expected Conference Delegates
306
2025 Conference Attendees
10
Countries Represented in 2025
3
Conference Days
The RGC-ICRG collaboration will focus on four key areas: co-presenting at major conferences including Discovery and the ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction; exploring opportunities for regional conferences in Canada; participating in international research and public awareness campaigns; and [fourth area needed].
This framework aims to deepen connections between RGC's established harm prevention programs and ICRG's research network, which has yielded nearly 500 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals since its inception.
"ICRG has long been committed to ensuring that the best science informs gambling policy and practice. RGC shares that commitment, and does exceptional work translating research into real-world programs and standards. This agreement opens the door to meaningful collaboration that will benefit practitioners, policymakers, and ultimately the people and communities most at risk of gambling harm."
— Michael Soll, President of the International Center for Responsible Gaming
Partnership Research Impact
The ICRG research network has produced nearly 500 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals since its inception, establishing it as the only funding source for scientific research on gambling disorder and responsible gambling in the United States.
The partnership leverages complementary organizational strengths. RGC operates the internationally recognized RG Check accreditation program and works extensively with regulators, operators, researchers, treatment providers, and community organizations across Canada and globally. The organization has built a reputation for translating research findings into practical, implementable harm prevention standards.
ICRG brings scientific rigor and research infrastructure that has established it as a global leader in responsible gambling research. The organization's funding model and research network provide the partnership with access to evidence-based insights that can inform policy development and program implementation.
This collaborative approach mirrors recent efforts by the National Council on Problem Gambling to strengthen federal research funding, highlighting a broader trend toward coordinated harm prevention initiatives across North America.
The collaboration represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between academic research and practical harm prevention implementation across jurisdictions.
RG Check Accreditation
RGC operates the internationally recognized RG Check accreditation program, working with regulators, operators, researchers, treatment providers, and community organizations across Canada and globally to translate research findings into practical harm prevention standards.
The partnership announcement comes as the gambling industry faces increasing regulatory scrutiny and public pressure to demonstrate effective harm prevention measures. Both organizations recognize that gambling harm transcends national borders, requiring coordinated international responses informed by robust research and proven intervention strategies.
Similar initiatives have emerged across jurisdictions, including Alberta's mandatory RG Check accreditation requirement, demonstrating growing recognition that standardized harm prevention frameworks can drive meaningful industry-wide improvements.
Registration for Discovery 2026 is now open, with the addition of ICRG as a formal partner expected to further strengthen the conference's international profile and capacity to connect latest research with frontline practitioners.
Media inquiries about the partnership can be directed to Patrick Moore, Senior Manager, Communications & PR at the Responsible Gambling Council (437-991-9781, [email protected]) or Noelle Mancini, Operations and Marketing Manager at the International Center for Responsible Gaming ([email protected]).
Conference Registration Open
Registration for Discovery 2026 is now open, with ICRG's addition as a formal partner expected to strengthen the conference's international profile and capacity to connect latest research with frontline practitioners. Media inquiries can be directed to Patrick Moore at RGC (437-991-9781, [email protected]) or Noelle Mancini at ICRG ([email protected]).
This formalized partnership signals a maturation in the responsible gambling field, where established organizations are moving beyond parallel efforts toward integrated collaborative frameworks. The timing coincides with rapid industry evolution, including digital transformation and expanding regulated markets that require sophisticated, evidence-based harm prevention approaches.
For operators and regulators, the partnership offers potential access to enhanced research translation services and policy guidance that draws from both organizations' extensive networks. The collaboration may also influence how other jurisdictions approach cross-border cooperation on gambling harm. prevention initiatives.
The partnership's emphasis on connecting research with practical implementation addresses a persistent challenge in the responsible gambling sector – ensuring that academic insights translate into measurable harm reduction outcomes. By combining ICRG's research credibility with RGC's program implementation experience, the collaboration could establish new benchmarks for evidence-based policy development across multiple jurisdictions.
The partnership's emphasis on connecting research with practical implementation addresses a persistent challenge in the responsible gambling sector – ensuring that academic insights translate into measurable harm reduction outcomes.
The partnership will be showcased at Discovery 2026 in Toronto, taking place April 14-16. ICRG representatives will participate as featured partners, with both organizations co-presenting a joint session as part of the conference program.
The partnership focuses on co-presenting at major conferences including Discovery and the ICRG Conference on Gambling and Addiction, exploring opportunities for regional conferences in Canada, and participating in international research and public awareness campaigns. A fourth pillar was mentioned but not detailed in the announcement.
The collaboration combines ICRG's research credibility and scientific network with RGC's practical program implementation experience. This creates enhanced research translation services and policy guidance that can establish new benchmarks for evidence-based policy development across multiple jurisdictions.
RGC brings over 40 years of harm prevention experience and operates the internationally recognized RG Check accreditation program. ICRG contributes as the only U.S. funding source for gambling disorder research, with its network producing nearly 500 peer-reviewed scientific articles since 1996.
According to Responsible Gambling Council.
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The Alberta iGaming Corporation has made RG Check accreditation mandatory for all iGaming sites entering Alberta's regulated market through a new partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council.
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