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The Responsible Gambling Council opens applications for its $5,000 Tibor Barsony Bursary, supporting Canadian students conducting gambling harm prevention research.
Feb 15, 2026 · 3 min read
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has opened applications for the 2026 Tibor Barsony Bursary, offering $5,000 CDN to Canadian students pursuing research in gambling harm prevention. The annual award honors the legacy of RGC's founder while investing in the next generation of researchers.
The bursary commemorates Tibor Barsony, who founded Canada's first organization dedicated to addressing gambling harm. Drawing from personal experience and years of direct support work, Barsony built bridges between industry stakeholders, governments, regulators, and treatment providers to establish comprehensive prevention frameworks.
Tibor Barsony founded Canada's first organization dedicated to addressing gambling harm, breaking the silence around problem gambling and bringing all stakeholders to the table
— Sarah McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of RGC
Barsony's advocacy work established the foundation for modern responsible gambling standards, prevention research methodologies, and support systems that continue protecting vulnerable populations today.
$5,000
Award Value (CDN)
16
Duration in Weeks (Fall 2026)
600
Maximum Research Proposal Words
The award targets Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate programs at recognized Canadian universities and colleges. Applicants must demonstrate involvement or clear intention to engage in gambling harm prevention research.
RGC particularly encourages applications from students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including:
This multidisciplinary approach aligns with RGC's commitment to comprehensive, evidence-based prevention strategies addressing gambling harm from multiple angles.
Application Components
Required submissions include a research proposal (600 words maximum), gambling research interests summary (300 words), academic declaration (200 words), CV, transcripts, and two academic reference letters.
The 2026 recipient will be celebrated at Discovery 2026 (April 14-16, Toronto), RGC's premier conference connecting researchers, practitioners, and gambling industry leaders in harm prevention initiatives. The event provides networking opportunities and showcases cutting-edge research developments.
Applications must be submitted by January 30, 2026. Complete eligibility criteria and detailed application instructions are available at the RGC bursary page.
Students can direct questions to Jennifer Reynolds, PhD, Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Mobilization, at [email protected].
The Responsible Gambling Council has operated as Ontario's trusted expert in gambling harm prevention for over 40 years, developing evidence-informed programs and maintaining partnerships with regulators, operators, treatment providers, and community organizations across Canada and internationally.
Conference registration for Discovery 2026 is available through the event portal.
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