Gambling Regulation Joins the International Policy Agenda

Gambling Regulation Joins the International Policy Agenda

Play'N Go

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2005

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Efforts to reshape the way gambling is regulated are gaining traction at the highest levels of international policy-making. As global summits such as the G7, G20, and the United Nations begin addressing the implications of gambling within broader discussions on health and digital economies, the sector is seeing an opening to participate more directly in shaping the conversation.

Play'n GO, one of the industry's most visible advocates for sustainable reform, has confirmed its involvement in key discussions taking place at these summits throughout the year. The company aims to share insights from its two decades of operation and to promote frameworks that prioritize preventative measures over retrospective fixes.

Rather than lobbying to defend industry interests in isolation, the company is positioning itself as a bridge between stakeholders. This includes neuroscientists, mental health professionals, regulators, and lawmakers, groups that, until now, have often operated on separate tracks when it comes to gambling and its regulation.

According to Shawn Fluharty, a sitting legislator in the U.S. and Head of Government Affairs at Play'n GO, the time has come for gambling policy to be treated as part of a broader international public health and economic dialogue. Speaking to EGR, Fluharty pointed to the risks posed by black market operators in jurisdictions with weak or fragmented regulatory structures. Without cohesive global standards, he argued, illegal gambling continues to erode the protections intended by regulated markets.

The appearance of gambling policy at this year's Brain Economy Forum, a platform linked to the G7, G20, and UN meetings, marks a shift in how the issue is viewed. Rather than being treated solely as a revenue stream or social concern, gambling is now being discussed within the context of brain health, behavioural addiction, and the responsibilities of digital platforms.

This shift in framing allows for new approaches. Instead of focusing solely on problem gambling after it emerges, the emphasis is moving toward early education, transparent design choices, and cooperation between the public and private sectors. Play'n GO's position is that a thriving digital gambling market can only be sustained through active regulation that includes built-in safeguards, informed oversight, and responsible product development.

The broader goal is to move away from piecemeal regulatory systems and create a more coordinated international framework. In many jurisdictions, gambling legislation has developed reactively. Rules are introduced after local issues arise, often without sufficient insight into how the modern online gambling environment actually functions. In some countries, access to gambling remains unrestricted even in the absence of regulation, exposing users to risks without any consumer protections.

Forums such as the G7 and G20 offer a rare chance to close this knowledge gap. Bringing together public health researchers and industry representatives at the same table can help clarify the realities of how digital gambling works, who is participating, and where the vulnerabilities lie. It also creates a setting in which industry representatives can respond to concerns not with rhetoric, but with operational insights and concrete proposals.

Play'n GO's contribution to these summits is framed around one key idea: that gambling regulation should not be seen as a barrier to growth, but as a necessary component of any long-term business model. From this perspective, advocating for tighter regulation is not a concession, it is a strategic choice designed to protect consumers and the integrity of the industry itself.

The company is also taking a firm position against short-term practices that may drive revenue but undermine sustainability. According to its leadership, success in the regulated sector will increasingly depend on transparent design, fair mechanics, and early intervention when it comes to harmful behavior. That is why Play'n GO is calling for global standards that go beyond compliance and move toward industry-wide accountability.

Importantly, the company is not engaging with the global policy community in isolation. It is part of a larger, emerging effort within the sector to align itself with evolving societal expectations, particularly around mental health and the ethics of digital design. These summits, which typically focus on macroeconomic coordination and geopolitical cooperation, provide an opportunity to integrate gambling policy into global economic frameworks for the first time in a substantive way.

By framing gambling as a digital activity with both economic and public health implications, Play'n GO and other participating stakeholders hope to encourage regulators to craft policies that address the full complexity of the modern gambling landscape. The aim is not only to reduce harm but to neutralize the systemic advantages that black market operators currently enjoy due to regulatory inconsistencies.