Responsible Gambling Specialist

Day 2 of Discovery 2026 brought some of the conference's most thought-provoking conversations to the stage. The morning opened with a keynote from Ramy Nassar, who offered a clear-eyed look at where artificial intelligence stands today and what it means for gambling harm prevention. The message was direct: the same technology being used to optimize engagement can be redirected as a force multiplier for prevention, and the sector needs to move now. From there, attendees chose from sessions that reflected the diversity of challenges facing the field. One breakout examined the connection between trauma and gambling harm among marginalized communities, with mental health and treatment providers sharing practical strategies for more inclusive care. Another explored how organizations can make responsible gambling interactions more human-centred and consistent across the player journey, including how AI-enabled insights can translate into meaningful staff conversations. The afternoon sessions were equally substantive. A plenary on sports betting presented new data from a national Canadian study, with panelists unpacking implications for marketing, regulation, and harm prevention, with a particular focus on youth and young adults. Breakouts tackled youth gambling, including the growing role of online gaming and loot boxes, alongside player protection strategies across diverse gambling environments. iGaming Ontario President and CEO Joseph Hillier also took to the stage to share an update on the upcoming centralized self-exclusion launch for Ontario's iGaming market (BetGuard). The day wrapped up with the Networking Reception at Char No. 5, where attendees continued the conversations that started on the conference floor. Some of the most valuable exchanges at Discovery happen in exactly those kinds of informal settings, and tonight was no exception. #Discovery2026 #ResponsibleGambling #GamblingHarmPrevention