Player protection is shifting from voluntary to mandatory, new RGC report finds

TORONTO, ON, [July 27, 2026] – The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has released Evolving Expectations, the first report in its new Sector Signals series, examining how player protection requirements in major gambling markets are moving from voluntary guidance to mandatory, enforceable regulation.

The report draws on jurisdictional evidence from the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Victoria, Australia, identifying four areas where regulatory expectations are converging: age specific requirements, financial and credit limitations, carded play and pre-commitment, and operator training requirements.

Among the findings:

• The UK’s Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 replaced a discretionary contribution system with a statutory levy, raising £120 million in its first year, ringfenced for treatment, prevention, and research.

• Norway has introduced age tiered monthly loss limits, informed by internal data showing that one in five men aged 18 to 25 are at risk of gambling related harm.

• Sweden has become the first European Union member state to ban all forms of credit funded gambling, closing a loophole that allowed play funded through third party credit.

• Victoria, Australia is trialing mandatory carded play across 43 venues, following a 2023 study that found 29 per cent of Victorian electronic gaming machine players had experienced gambling related harm.

“Behind every one of these regulatory changes is a recognition that voluntary approaches, on their own, may not always reach the players who need protection most. The shift toward mandatory safeguards reflects a growing understanding that the health of the player base and the sustainability of the industry are the same conversation, not competing ones,” said Sarah McCarthy, CEO, Responsible Gambling Council.

RGC works with operators, regulators, and policymakers to help translate these emerging requirements into practice, drawing on research-informed expertise from across the organization.

Evolving Expectations is the first of six reports in the Sector Signals series, running through 2027. Each report draws on jurisdictional evidence from leading markets to unpack an emerging trend shaping the global gambling industry, and what it means for operators, regulators, and policymakers.

The full report is available here.

About the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)

The Responsible Gambling Council is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gambling harm across Canada and globally. For more than 40 years, RGC has delivered evidence-based awareness programs, advanced responsible gambling best practices, and facilitated the internationally recognized RG Check accreditation program. RGC works with regulators, operators, researchers, treatment providers, community organizations, and people with lived experience to ensure gambling safeguards are in place and that all people have access to the information and support they need. Visit responsiblegambling.org.

Media Contact:

Patrick Moore
Senior Manager, Communications & PR
Responsible Gambling Council
patrickm@rgco.org
responsiblegambling.org

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