Conference Program

 

 

Here’s the program for IAGR2025 conference in Toronto. Please note the program is still being confirmed and is subject to change.

 

Buy your tickets now

Monday 20 October

Monday 20 October Stream2
09:00
GLI seminar

GLI’s seminar is designed for gaming industry professionals eager to stay ahead of the curve in regulation, technology and cybersecurity.

All conference ticket-holders are welcome to attend.

GLI is a silver sponsor of IAGR2025.

  • More details TBC
CAGRA 2025 Conference

The CAGRA Conference is the annual gathering of the Canadian Association of Gaming Regulatory Agencies (CAGRA), a multi-jurisdictional association dedicated to strengthening collaboration amongst gaming regulators across Canada.

This year’s CAGRA Conference in collaboration with IAGR is an exciting opportunity for discussion, learning and exchanging insights with national and international colleagues in support of our shared commitment to a secure, dynamic and responsible gaming industry.
10.30
NETWORKING BREAK

 
NETWORKING BREAK
10:45
GLI seminar continues
  • More details TBC
CAGRA 2025 Conference

The CAGRA Conference is the annual gathering of the Canadian Association of Gaming Regulatory Agencies (CAGRA), a multi-jurisdictional association dedicated to strengthening collaboration amongst gaming regulators across Canada.

This year’s CAGRA Conference in collaboration with IAGR is an exciting opportunity for discussion, learning and exchanging insights with national and international colleagues in support of our shared commitment to a secure, dynamic and responsible gaming industry.
12.00
IAGR ARRIVAL LUNCH
13:00
IAGR2025 Welcome and introduction

 
13.15
PANEL:
Where the wind is blowing: Emerging trends and market dynamics

Four regulators from different regions share their perspectives on the shifting dynamics of the global gambling industry — from the rise of AI and rapid product diversification to new technologies, cross-border challenges and the ongoing balance between innovation and consumer protection.

  • Peter Czegledy, Partner and Chair of the Gaming Practice, Aird & Berlis LLP, Canada (Moderator)
  • Dr Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada
  • Bashir Are, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority, Nigeria
  • Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore
  • TBC

 
14.15
Title TBC

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, Gambling Commission, Great Britain

 
15.00
NETWORKING BREAK
15:30
PANEL:
Compliance
  • Details TBC
 

 
16.30
Leveraging AI to enhance responsible gambling: Innovative solutions for early risk detection

This session explores how AI and behavioural science are transforming responsible gambling. Using real-world examples, Mindway AI will demonstrate how tools like GameScanner and Gamalyze help identify at-risk players, support early intervention and improve regulatory compliance. Attendees will gain insight into the latest developments in AI-driven risk profiling and how these technologies can support safer gambling across markets and jurisdictions.
17:00
PANEL
Academic and applied research collaboration: Using industry data to support evidence-based regulation

Land-based gambling systems generate rich behavioural data, but this resource remains underused in safer gambling efforts.

In this session, Focal Research and the UNLV International Gaming Institute share insights from a collaborative, self-funded research program designed to analyse systems data in novel ways. They’ll explore how academic–industry partnerships can secure sensitive data, replicate findings across venues, and provide stronger evidence to inform regulation.

Key findings include when to engage players during continuous play and how small incentives affect participation in safer gambling initiatives.
17:40
CLOSING REMARKS
18:30 - 20:30
OPENING RECEPTION
The Art Gallery of Ontario

Dress code: Smart casual (come as you are, direct from the conference)

We officially open IAGR2025 with a welcome reception at one of Toronto’s premier cultural landmarks — the Art Gallery of Ontario.

This relaxed, standing event includes drinks, light appetisers and access to selected exhibits for attendees. The Art Gallery is a 34-minute walk from the conference venue, offering the perfect start to your Toronto experience.

Tuesday 21 October

Tuesday 21 October Stream2
08:30
Opening remarks

 
08:45
PANEL:
Navigating complexity: Tackling key challenges in responsible gambling regulation
  • Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada (Moderator)
  • Panellists TBC

This session explores some of the most pressing challenges in responsible gambling regulation today — including emerging gambling products, VIP programs, non-traditional advertising and shifting financial behaviours. Panellists will examine current regulatory responses, identify potential gaps, and consider the real-world impact of these measures on player protection and market sustainability.
Lotteries stream
  • Details TBC
09:45
PANEL:
Compliance
  • Details TBC
Lotteries stream
  • Details TBC
10:45
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00
PANEL: Considering the varied implementation of self-exclusion and its place in a wider safety framework
  • Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar (Moderator)
  • Panellists TBC

 
Lotteries stream
  • Details TBC
12:00
LUNCH
LUNCH
13:00
Lessons learned since opening
  • Details TBC
13:30
AI and responsible gambling: Shaping the future of player protection
  • Details TBC
14:00
Addressing the problem of gambling addiction in Africa

Gambling addiction is a rising public health issue across Africa, worsened by limited awareness, cultural stigma and the rapid spread of online betting platforms. This session explores the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups in Africa, especially young people, and examines how unregulated markets contribute to harm.

Drawing on regional insights, Ladipo Abiose will highlight effective strategies — including culturally tailored awareness campaigns, community-based recovery models and tech-driven responsible gambling tools — offering practical ideas for regulators.
14:30
IAGR past, present and future: A fireside chat

Past and present IAGR presidents Tom and Ben will consider the role IAGR plays in the context of the gambling sector today and the power of collective action.
15:00
IAGR GROUP PHOTO
15:10
NETWORKING BREAK
15.30
IAGR AGM
16:30 onward
FREE EVENING

Wednesday 22 October

Wednesday 22 October
08:40
Opening remarks
08:45
Session 1: Spotlight on illegal and unlicensed gambling

A range of case studies from around the world showcasing successful actions that jurisdictions have taken independently or in collaboration.

  • Speakers details TBC

 
09:45
Session 2: Spotlight on illegal and unlicensed gambling

A deep dive into some of the more novel and emerging threats we’re experiencing and technological boundaries being pushed.

  • Speakers details TBC
10:45
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00
Session 3: Spotlight on illegal and unlicensed gambling

A look at the priorities of the IAGR Illegal Gambling Working Group. We’ll explore what the group is doing to harness the power of collective action at a global level.

  • Speakers details TBC
12:00
LUNCH
13:00
AI-driven behavioural insights: The future of responsible gambling and real-time harm minimisation
  • Details TBC
13:30
PANEL:
Crypto-assets in gaming: Regulation, risk and public policy consideration
  • Danielle Bush, Senior Legal Counsel, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Canada (Moderator)
  • Chris Hovius, Senior Counsel, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario), Canda
  • Matthew Long, Director of Payments and Digital Assets,  Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom
  • Lori Stein, Partner, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Canada
  • Antony Gevisser, Senior Vice President Legal & Regulatory Affairs – Super Group, United Kingdom

As crypto-assets become more visible in online gambling ecosystems, regulators and operators alike are grappling with how to manage their use responsibly.

This session explores the practical, regulatory and policy implications of crypto-assets in online gaming — including how they’re currently used, how volatility is managed and what obligations operators face under anti-money laundering and source-of-funds rules. Panellists will examine the challenges of overseeing crypto-based transactions in gambling environments.

The session will also explore broader public policy questions, including whether consumer demand alone justifies regulatory change — and what future developments may emerge as jurisdictions weigh innovation against integrity.
14:30
Managing competing priorities towards sustainable gaming
  • Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
  • Carrie Torrisi, Chief, Division of Sports Wagering, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States

How can regulators and operators balance commercial goals with meaningful harm prevention? This session from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission explores early steps taken to examine player wager limits and VIP programs through a lens of sustainability. Mark Vander Linden and Carrie Torrisi from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will share insights into their review of operator practices and discuss how regulatory frameworks might evolve to better manage risk while supporting a healthy gambling environment.
15:00
NETWORKING BREAK
15:15
What works and why: Assessing safer gambling outcomes to advance evidence-based decision-making
  • Elizabeth Lusk, Chief Strategy Officer, Greo Evidence Insights, Canada
  • Dr Sasha Stark, Director, Evaluation and Implementation Research, Greo Evidence Insights, Canada

As gambling products and markets continue to evolve, so too must our approaches to understanding what actually reduces harm. But without clear evaluation, how do we know if safer gambling initiatives are working?

This session explores how outcomes-based evaluation can strengthen harm reduction efforts by identifying what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Panellists will introduce core principles of outcomes measurement, its integration with gambling harm assessments, and practical methodologies used across jurisdictions.

Through case studies and applied examples, participants will gain insights into how evaluation can inform policy, improve practice, and support shared progress toward safer gambling goals.
15:45
Risk transformation amid regulatory reinvention

In 2021, Steve Blackburn was recruited to Crown Resorts at a time of regulatory crisis. The company had been found unsuitable to operate a casino in New South Wales, was facing Royal Commissions in Victoria and Western Australia, and was under enforcement action by AUSTRAC.

As Crown’s Chief Risk Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Crime Officer, Steve led the company’s transformation and remediation efforts, appearing before both Royal Commissions and overseeing reforms across risk, compliance, anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption and responsible gaming. Many of the risk management measures introduced during this period have since informed broader regulatory reform across Australia.

In this session, Steve will share Crown’s journey as a case study — offering an operator’s perspective on what works, what doesn’t, and how regulatory relationships evolved in one of the world’s fastest-changing gambling environments.
16:15
PANEL:
Protective measures for young adults in gambling
  • Details and panellists TBC
18:00 - 22:00
GALA DINNER
Omni King Edwards Hotel

Dress code: Cocktail or formal

Celebrate with colleagues and peers at our signature Gala Dinner, hosted at the elegant Omni King Edward Hotel – a 16-minute walk from the conference venue.

This formal, seated dinner features a three-course meal, wine and the announcement of the 2025 IAGR Regulatory Award winners. It’s an evening to reflect, reconnect and toast the future of resilient regulation.

Thursday 23 October

Thursday 23 October
08:40
Opening remarks
08:45
Rewiring responsible gaming: Using AI, neuroentertainment and the survival optimisation system to balance dopamine and reduce impulsivity
  • Details TBC
09:15
Efforts to combat match-fixing and sports betting-regulated corruption: An Australian approach
  • Details TBC
09:45
How the Danish Gambling Authority uses data to combat match-fixing
  • Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark

The Danish Gambling Authority has introduced new regulatory powers to strengthen its response to match-fixing — placing data at the centre of detection, investigation and international cooperation.

This presentation outlines how Denmark is using mandatory reporting, unique player identification and detailed betting data to monitor the market in real-time, assess risk and respond swiftly to suspicious activity. It also explores the opportunities and challenges of data sharing between regulators to address this global issue more effectively.
10:15
In conversation
  • Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority
  • More details TBC
10:45
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00
PANEL:
AI tools for gaming regulators
  • Jennifer Carleton, Chief Legal Officer, Sightline Payments, United States (Moderator)
  • Josh Kellman, Founder and CEO, Voicebox, United States
  • Justin Stempeck,  Deputy General Counsel, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States
  • More panellists TBC

This panel will explore how regulators can harness AI to strengthen oversight — from detecting fraud and verifying identities to supporting responsible gambling and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. Panellists will share real-world applications, examine current and emerging use cases, and discuss the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into regulatory practice.
12:00
Emerging and converging technologies (trading, crypto and skins): A focus on harm and harm-prevention

As gambling, investing and gaming converge to create new and exciting products, what can we understand about their propensity to create harm, and what must we do to prevent problems?
12:30
The ‘Take a Break’ initiative: Responsible gambling innovation and minimising gambling harm
  • Details TBC

 
13:00
CLOSING PANEL AND REMARKS
How does the regulator of 2025 balance the challenges they face today and prepare for those ahead?
  • Details TBC

 
13:30
FINAL NETWORKING LUNCH