In June of 2025, we announced that Kindbridge Behavioral Health (KBH) Founder and CEO Daniel Umfleet had been invited to help lead the discussion on Responsible Gambling at the 2025 Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit. You can read the original press release right here for additional information. What we are featuring here today, is the G7 Responsible Gambling forum itself. In addition to providing the full video of the discussion, we have delineated key points for which we provide links to other articles and resources that dive deeper into each respective manner. We have also included a pair of quotable statements from our steadfast leader. Whether you’re a stakeholder at a regulator or operator level, someone who has direct experience with problematic gambling behavior, or are a concerned citizen, the following provides valuable insight into what is now recognized as a global health crisis and what is required to correct the course.
Full Video and Key Takeaways from the 2025 G7 Forum on Responsible Gaming and Gambling
WATCH: 2025 G7 Forum on Responsible Gambling
The G7 Summit Responsible Gambling forum featured not only KBH’s Daniel Umfleet, but Dan Spencer of EPIC Global Solutions, a leading independent gambling harm-prevention consultancy in the UK, USA, and Europe. Also included in the discussion was Rasmus Kjaergaard of Mindway AI, an organization that pairs technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) with neuroscience (and human expertise) to detect problematic gambling behavior among player populations who use digital gambling platforms. Lastly, moderator Brianne Doura-Schawohl invited Mark Hicks, Managing Director of NCAA Enforcement Development to join in on the forum to provide a unique perspective regarding student athletes who have been impacted by the problem gambling crisis in America.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Forum on Responsible Gambling
Holistic Approach to RG : Early Education (minute 8:58)
Mental health experts specializing in the treatment of problem gambling often point to the necessity of a holistic approach. When asked by Brianne Doura-Schawohl to clarify what a holistic approach looks like in the realm of Responsible Gambling, Dan Spencer introduces how Epic Global Solutions pinpoints three areas of concentration, beginning with early intervention education. This is something that KBH has covered in great detail. Reference the following resources to learn more:
Holistic Approach to RG : Detection at Point of Play (minute 10:43)
In introducing the second pillar of the holistic approach to Responsible Gambling, Dan Spencer passes the proverbial ball to Rasmus Kjaergaard of Mindway AI to discuss the detection of markers of gambling harm and problematic behavior at the point-of-play (when and where players are engaged with an online gambling platform). The intent is to leverage technology to work with regulated operators to help ensure that the player journey remains healthy, and to identify when it no longer is, so that they can be thoughtfully ushered into support services. Later in the discussion (minute 14:48) Brianne points to a lack of uniformity in identifying markers of harm, at which point she circles back to Rasmus to inquire about what more can be done with respect to using AI technology to detect identify markers and problematic gambling behavior across a high volume of online gamblers on a given platform. Kindbridge has also covered this topic in great detail. Reference the following resources to learn more:
- Gambling Technology and Addiction: Fighting Fire with Fire
- Using AI to Monitor for Gambling Addiction
Holistic Approach to RG : Identifying At-Risk Populations (minute 11:41)
At this point, the Responsible Gambling forum dives into what Dan Spencer refers to as the third area to pinpoint in a holistic strategy; recognition of high-risk vocations. While Spencer mentions that they have identified a total of seven vocational segments that are most vulnerable, elite athletes at a collegiate and professional level are identified (in this forum) as being particularly vulnerable to the harms associated with gambling. In working closely with athletes in addition to other high-risk gambling populations (including active and retired members of the U.S. military) Kindbridge covers the spectrum of high-risk vocations/populations quite extensively. Reference the following resources to learn more:
- Why Do Athletes Gamble More Than Others?
- Overview of Athlete Abuse by Angry Sports Bettors
- College Athlete Gambling | Why Does D3 Gamble More?
- Student Athlete Gambling Prevention and Statistical Analysis
- Veteran Mental Health Statistics and Problem Gambling
- Should Military be Allowed to Gamble?
- Military Gambling Addiction Treatment
Holistic Approach to RG : Embedding Off-boarding Systems (minute 18:50)
At this juncture, the discussion evolved from the three areas of concentration in holistic Responsible Gambling towards action-items, namely in the form of off-boarding systems that can be embedded within regulated gambling platforms. KBH’s Daniel Umfleet is tasked to provide insight:
“Yeah, the weird thing when you look at multiple years of data that come through our clinic is you get a level of predictability. Why it’s important to embed these systems so that people have a way to off-board is because I can tell you when you’re going to spike. I can tell you when people are going to start coming through at a more rapid rate. I can tell you what the period of time is going to be where you need to really amplify responsible gambling messaging, where you need to really amplify mental health messaging and mindfulness messaging, and anything that might be important to a person who’s struggling. So until we actually get a real good understanding collectively across an entire system approach of how we can use healthcare data to actually build prevention models. you know, this is what we’re here to do. This is the whole purpose of this conversation in this steering committee and this summit.”
Umfleet goes deeper to discuss what type of messaging resonates with certain populations (i.e. military) and touches on the lack of financial literacy in the community (minute 20:41). This ties in with a recent GamingAmerica feature where Umfleet discusses financial stability and Responsible Gambling initiatives (view here).
Complexities of Working with Gambling Operators (minute 25:40)
To wind down the discussion, Brianne asks the panelists about the challenges they face in regards to how some may perceive them to lose credibility by working with gambling operators. KBH’s Daniel Umfleet responds candidly:
“You want it raw, right? There’s reality, and then I think there’s perception. And from where I sit, we’ve been working in this space now for 5 years and the most collaboration, the most cooperation, the most interest, the most progress has all been made with us on the operator side of the table…100% […] We are licensed clinicians, we’re doctors, we’re medical people, and for there to be any suggestion whatsoever that because I have contracts with operators that that is going to somehow influence the outcome of a person going through care is nuts. It’s just nuts. So I’ll stop there.”
Ask About Corporate Programs, Partnerships, and Consultancies
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email help@kindbridge.com
Get Help for Problem Gambling Today
CALL +1 (877) 426-4258
OR
Email help@kindbridge.com
