Responsible Gambling Research and Advocacy Orgs: Multiple Groups Addressing Issues Tied to Gambling

As gambling entered the mainstream in the US, its expansion birthed organizations that counter harm, champion public health, and support problem gambling research. Here’s an overview of some of the groups working to protect players from gambling’s inherent risks.

National Council on Problem Gambling 

Founded in 1972, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is the leading US nonprofit working to mitigate gambling-related harm. It aims to “improve health and wellness by reducing the personal, social, and economic costs of problem gambling,” while taking a neutral stance on legalization.

As the US’s oldest gambling-focused organization, it exists to, per its Vision & Mission statement:

• Advance wellbeing by minimizing gambling harm
• Lead awareness and advocacy on lessening gambling-related harm
• Serve as the issue’s national advocate

The NCPG focuses its advocacy for problem gambling programs, policies, and funding at the national level, while its state affiliates focus theirs on state and local efforts. In November 2025, Heather L. Maurer was appointed as the executive director, following Keith Whyte’s 26-year tenure. 

The Council is behind several significant initiatives, such as the National Problem Gambling Helpline™ (1-800-MY-RESET), a single national access point for local resources and referrals. 

The NCPG’s other major efforts include: 

• The National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gambling
• National Problem Gambling Awareness Month
• Gift Responsibly Campaign

The NCPG has also developed the Internet Responsible Gambling Standards, its model policy for online gambling, and the Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP), a best-practices accreditation. 

In May 2026, the NCPG expanded its membership and focus beyond traditional gambling by bringing Kalshi into the fold and launching a new Financial Trader Health and Safety initiative.

Some have questioned the new partnership, given the gulf between NCPG’s existing policies and the practices of Kalshi and its prediction-market peers. In a Gambling Insider interview, Cole Wogoman, NCPG’s director of policy and partnerships, said, “Ignoring an emerging consumer behavior … would be irresponsible.”

Our mission is very clear: to reduce and mitigate harm where it’s occurring. And right now, we believe there is harm occurring to folks engaged on these platforms, in the same way there’s harm occurring in crypto trading, day trading, or traditional gambling. We believe it’s our role to be there now.”

American Institute for Boys and Men 

While not strictly a responsible gambling or even gambling-focused organization, the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) launched its Boys and Men Online research program in early 2026. Through BMO, AIBM investigates the digital lives of America’s males — including their relationship to gambling in its various and shifting online forms. 

From AIBM’s website:

“Too many boys and men are struggling – at school, at work, and in their families and communities. The American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) is the first national organization committed to objective research and policy development to enhance the well-being of boys and men.”

AIBM hired noted author and gambling policy expert Jonathan Cohen to head up its gambling policy efforts. As AIBM’s sports betting policy lead, Cohen works with gambling research and policy fellow, Isaac Rose-Berman, to spark conversation and shape gambling policy.  Rose-Berman told GI that he believes gambling education should be taking place at schools.

AIBM published the results of a survey it commissioned to examine Americans’ perceptions of prediction markets. The Ipsos-conducted survey found that Americans think the platforms are more gambling-like than the investing they claim to be. They also discovered that most participants expect corruption in gambling, traditional financial markets, and everything in between.

In his Q&A, Cohen told Gambling Insider that he believes safer gambling is possible as long as necessary guardrails are in place.

The reason gambling is negatively affecting the well-being of people, particularly boys and men, is not necessarily anything intrinsic to gambling in and of itself; it is related to the frictionless, technologically supercharged version of sports gambling that we’ve put on cell phones over the last eight years. I’m not convinced that we can’t safely do online sports gambling; as it exists, it just lacks the guardrails that would prevent it from negatively affecting people’s well-being.”

Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research 

CASPR has a lofty mission: Solve addiction at a population level.

To do that, CASPR seeks to advance novel medications for substance use disorders and reduce rates of gambling addiction and bankruptcies. Currently, Caspr operates the world’s only pilot programs offering GLP-1s to patients experiencing addictions of any kind. The non-profit is entirely community-funded and refuses donations directly or indirectly from industry.

In March, CASPR launched Life Savings, its program focused on online gambling policy. With the launch, the organization released a 50-state Online Gambling report card, a state tax breakdown, outflow calculations, and model state legislation policies.

Nicholas Reville, CASPR’s co-founder and executive director, is the author of the group’s newsletter, Recursive Adaptation, where he chronicles the “opportunity to solve one of the most stubborn challenges of modern society: addiction.”

In a recent Gambling Insider Q&A, Reville specifically addressed the promise of good gambling policy. 

“The strategy that works depends on the problem you’re addressing. In substance use disorders, we’ve tried every policy with only modest impacts, and what’s lacking right now is better medicines. 

On the gambling side, I think the problem is, in some ways, the opposite. There’s a tremendous amount we can do with policy to prevent gambling addictions from forming, and we’ve been going in the opposite direction. With online gambling, we’ve just thrown open the gates to apps with absolutely no consumer protections. And so there’s an urgent need for organizations that think strategically about policy, politics, and how these companies operate to get involved.”

Financial Stability Research Group

The Financial Stability and Responsible Gambling Initiative (FSRG) positions itself as the US’s first coordinated counter to gambling-related financial harm from public health and financial well-being perspectives. The Initiative is a proactive, evidence-based effort aimed at reducing the financial harms associated with gambling.

Launched by Kindbridge Research Institute and UCLA, the FSRG Initiative connects leaders from finance, health, and research to confront the root of gambling-related financial harm. By uniting experts and sharing data-driven solutions, FSRG aims to build a resilient system that supports financial well-being and drives lasting change.

The Initiative focuses on four pillars:

• Research and Cross-Sector Insights Report: Conducting a national landscape analysis and stakeholder workshops to map risk, surface trends, and generate actionable Insights.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Breaking down silos to build a network of financial institutions, health experts, researchers, and community organizations that align on best practices.
• Practical Tools and Resources: Developing materials and guidance to help institutions communicate effectively, consistently, and proactively.
• Policy and Systems Change: Translating research and lived experience into actionable policy recommendations and industry standards.

FRSG’s goal isn’t to eliminate all gambling risk. Rather, it aims to reduce preventable harm through systemic collaboration. Ultimately, it wants fewer individuals to experience gambling-related financial harm. 

FSRG hosted a webinar in April 2026: “Financial Health, Gambling, and Prevention: A Cross-Industry Conversation.” During the conversation, members of FSRG’s working group discussed how early identification of financial stress can provide space to interrupt gambling harm.

Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (Greo)

For over 25 years, Greo (formerly the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre) has specialized in turning research into actionable strategies to reduce harm related to gambling, gaming, technology use, and substance use. 

The independent Canadian non-profit partners with organizations to develop evidence-based strategies, policies, practices, and interventions. In practice, that looks like developing, testing, scaling, and iterating on evidence-based solutions for real-world contexts. Greo also provides infrastructure for large-scale collaborations by designing and managing funding calls and leading external integrity reviews. 

Recently, Greo received funding through Health Canada’s Youth Mental Health Fund to develop Canada’s first clinical practice guidelines for Problematic Youth Gambling.

Greo said the new national initiative will equip mental health providers with tools to identify and treat gambling-related harm among Canadian youth. The 24-month project will address a significant gap in the existing mental health landscape: a total lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines for treating young people experiencing gambling-related harm. The guidelines will be available in Canada’s two official languages: English and French.

Greo’s chief research officer and co-chair of the Steering Group overseeing guideline development, Dr. Matthew M. Young, said the guidelines will offer youth evidence-based care:

“Problem gambling among young people is an increasingly recognized public health concern. Young people experiencing gambling-related harm deserve access to evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and stage-appropriate care. These guidelines will help ensure they get that.”

Dr. Young was also part of the team behind the Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines. 

International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill 

For over two decades, the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University has been a leader in youth gambling research. Led by Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, the Centre also provides youth gambling treatment and works globally on responsible gambling initiatives.

Derevensky shared his expertise with Gambling Insider for a look at the Brendan Sorsby betting scandal. 

“It’s the frequency, repetitive behaviors, and increasing wagers that are problematic,” Derevensky said of Sorsby’s reported betting habits. “Lying about your betting and chasing losses are symptoms of problematic gambling.” 

Originally established as the McGill Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic, the Centre’s ongoing efforts are funded by government, industry, and charitable foundations. Over time, the Centre’s mandate and role shifted, and research focused on multiple high-risk adolescent behaviors. It has been instrumental in identifying youth determinants of problem gambling risk and has developed several award-winning prevention programs. It has also contributed expertise to developing more effective problem gambling treatments. 

The Centre’s website lists several current research projects:

• Internet gambling among university students
• Fantasy sports wagering
• Examining college policies toward gambling
• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) study of gambling behavior among US college athletes
• Using personalized normative feedback as a protective measure for gambling
• Examining social media’s role in gambling initiation and maintenance
• Impact of gambling advertising

Kindbridge Research Institute

Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI) is an advanced knowledge and learning hub for behavioral addictions, including problem gambling. It is also the organization noted above that collaborates with UCLA on the FSRG Initiative.

Kindbridge bases its work on research that indicates that swaths of states’ populations lack access to mental health support. Typically, these sub-populations have a higher risk of developing gambling-related harms, due to age, socio-economics, living in rural communities, ethnicity, religion, or gender. The institute says a critical component of its work is studying how telehealth can complement or serve as the primary method for therapy and recovery. 

To that end, KRI seeks to advance the adoption of evidence-based telehealth solutions for gambling disorder and develop gambling-focused evidence-based practice models. It also aims to measure how telehealth and improved access to treatment can affect high-quality mental health outcomes.

KRI is adjacent to Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a for-profit business that offers clinical counseling via telehealth. 

Public Health Advocacy Institute 

Founded in 1979 as the Clean Indoor Air Educational Foundation to protect nonsmokers from smoke exposure, the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) has since taken on other public health issues, including gambling. 

While its focus sometimes shifts, PHAI says its first concern has always been public well-being. 

Addressing gambling, it argues that legalized gambling requires “comprehensive regulation to protect public health,” particularly given the industry’s rapid growth. Further, it believes the industry-championed responsible gaming model falls short.

Per PHAI’s website: 

“Gambling addiction is not just a personal issue—it is a public health crisis. The normalization of sports betting and the widespread availability of online gambling have made it easier than ever for people to develop serious gambling problems. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting not only individuals but their families, communities, and society as a whole.”

As part of its advocacy, PHAI launched its Center for Public Health Litigation. Essentially, it’s a nonprofit public-interest law firm. The Center filed a class action suit against DraftKings in Massachusetts to challenge the industry’s “deceptive and harmful practices.” Most recently, Dr. Harry Levant, PHAI’s director of gambling policy, appeared in hearing about sports betting integrity before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy. 

Levant is a former problem gambler who lost his law license for embezzling his clients’ money. It was that experience that turned him to problem gambling advocacy.

Responsible Gambling Council

Based in Canada with a global reach, the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is “all in for safer gambling.” 

Founded in 1983 as the Canadian Foundation on Compulsive Gambling, the RGC believes that as gambling evolves, so do its risks. For over 40 years, it’s worked to build an infrastructure for “safeguards and support” for gamblers. 

As part of its mandate, the RGC offers industry accreditation, advisory, and research support. It also works alongside operators and regulators to ensure safer gambling best practices are in place.

Per its website, the RGC seeks to reduce gambling risks “through innovation, awareness, and improved safeguards”. Gambling, it says, “should never come at a human cost.”

The RGC recently released a white paper urging the financial sector to be more proactive in tackling gambling-related financial harm. The paper explores how commercial banking relationships can serve as a lever for player protection. “Embedding harm prevention into due diligence processes benefits operators, institutions, and the communities they serve,” it argues.

From the white paper:

“Having long framed themselves as partners in their clients’ financial health, encouraging responsible risk-taking, budgeting and sustainable borrowing, financial institutions have a clear, shared interest in preventing the accumulation of unmanageable debt linked to gambling losses. Commercial banking and corporate services can also play a crucial role by embedding expectations for harm prevention in their relationships with gambling operators. This aligns with their due diligence obligations and KYC processes.”