Rome 2024 session:
The positive play approach: A responsible gambling new innovation
About Mary:
Dr. Mary Donohue is a renowned figure in digital psychology and mental health, serving as the Founder and CEO of the Digital Wellness Center (DWC). Her dedication to the field was sparked by witnessing her brother Tim’s challenges with online betting, motivating her to develop preventative measures akin to a ‘seatbelt’ for gamblers, aimed at mitigating the risks associated with digital gaming and addiction.
Named by Fortune Magazine as one of the “10 Businesswomen to Watch in 2023,” Dr. Mary is acclaimed for her pioneering approaches to wellness and mentorship. Under her leadership, DWC has secured accolades such as the winner of Flutter’s Alpha Hub Play Well Challenge, 2023 Marketplace Champion Award and was a finalist in the 2024 SBC Player Protection Award. The DWC is renowned for its innovative technology that synergizes mood mapping with microbreaks, revolutionizing player digital health. This perspective is detailed in her best-selling book, Message Received, celebrated as the “digital communication bible” for its profound insights into bridging generational gaps in the digital era.
Dr. Mary and her team have created myStridePositivePlay™, a patent-pending digital therapeutic platform that has evolved from over 34,000 interactions. This initiative underscores her commitment to reducing problem gaming by 30% by 2030. Her influential work has earned accolades from peers, prime ministers, and Queen Elizabeth II, marking her as one of 18 Outstanding Women in Tech and one of the 100 Most Influential Women in America by Diversity MBA.
Her contributions have been featured in prestigious publications like the Harvard Business Review and across major North American news networks. As a Columbia Business School Lang Center Innovation Fellow, Dr. Mary integrates cutting-edge research with practical applications to enhance both corporate and societal wellness.
Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Mary is an avid volunteer, yogi, runner, and enjoys life’s diverse experiences. She also fondly remembers a brief, unforgettable stint as a Supreme alongside Diana Ross.
Under Dr. Mary’s visionary guidance, the Digital Wellness Center remains at the forefront of advancing digital wellness for players, leveraging neuroscience to create microbreaks that act like mental stretches—offering essential relief and preventing mental strain in today’s digital landscape.