RGC Announces $5,000 Tibor Barsony Bursary for Canadian Students

TORONTO, ON – [January 15, 2026] The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Tibor Barsony Bursary, a $5,000 CDN award recognizing outstanding academic contributions in gambling harm prevention research.

The Bursary honours Tibor Barsony, RGC’s founder and a pioneering advocate for problem gambling prevention. Drawing from his own lived experience and years of directly supporting people struggling with gambling harm, Tibor dedicated his career to uniting the gambling industry and beyond to ensure gambling never comes at a human cost.

He advocated for governments, regulators, operators, treatment agencies, and social service providers to recognize the impact of problem gambling on individuals and communities. His advocacy laid the foundation for responsible gambling standards, prevention research, and support systems that continue today.

“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,” said Sarah McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of RGC. “This bursary continues his legacy of advocacy and awareness by investing in students who will advance prevention research and protect future generations from gambling-related harm.”

The award is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate programs at recognized Canadian universities and colleges. Eligible students must demonstrate involvement or intention to engage in gambling research focused on harm prevention.

RGC particularly encourages applications from students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including mental health and addictions, public health, and health promotion. This multidisciplinary approach aligns with RGC’s commitment to comprehensive, evidence-based prevention strategies.

Applications must include a research proposal (600 words maximum), summary of gambling research interests (300 words), academic declaration (200 words), CV, transcripts, and two academic reference letters. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2026.

The 2026 Tibor Barsony Bursary recipient will be celebrated at Discovery 2026 (April 14-16, Toronto): RGC’s premier conference connecting researchers, practitioners, and gambling industry leaders in gambling harm prevention.

Learn more and register for Discovery at https://reg.eventmobi.com/discovery2026.

For complete eligibility criteria and application details, visit https://responsiblegambling.org/tibor-barsony-bursary or contact Jennifer Reynolds, PhD, Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Mobilization, at jenniferr@rgco.org.

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About the Responsible Gambling Council

The Responsible Gambling Council is a respected, independent non-profit organization and Ontario’s trusted expert in gambling harm prevention. For over 40 years, RGC has been a leader in preventing problem gambling in Canada and globally. Through evidence-informed programs, research, and partnerships with regulators, operators, treatment providers, community agencies, schools, and families, RGC works to ensure that gambling safeguards are in place and promote the wellbeing of all those it serves. Learn more at https://www.responsiblegambling.org.

QUICK FACTS

• Award Value: $5,000 CDN

• Application Deadline: January 30, 2026

• Eligibility: Canadian citizens/permanent residents, full-time students, min. “B” average

• Award Duration: 16 weeks (Fall 2026)

• Announcement: Discovery 2026 (April 14-16, Toronto)

• Contact: discovery@rgco.org

RGC