Better Gambling Forum publishes UN report and six-pillar responsible gambling framework

The Better Gambling Forum (BGF), an initiative of the Brain Capital Alliance, has published the final version of its report for the United Nations. The report supports the draft Responsible Gambling Practice and Policy Pillars (RG3P) Framework, which the forum hopes will become a global benchmark for player protection and the reduction of gambling-related harm.

The forum says it developed the work with international stakeholders including the G7/G20, the UN and the World Economic Forum. The report grew out of a BGF Collaborative Event held in New York City in September 2025. A draft went through two stakeholder consultations, including a webinar in May 2026, before the final version was adopted.

The BGF takes a public health and brain health approach to gambling. Rather than placing responsibility only on individuals, it encourages coordinated action by governments, industry, healthcare providers, researchers and community organisations. It also notes that, while some countries lean toward banning certain forms of gambling, consumers continue to gamble, so it argues that regulation should aim to reduce harm while still allowing people to enjoy the product.

The framework rests on six pillars. The first covers education, informed choice and harm prevention, including how consumers absorb and act on information. The second addresses risk detection and intervention, using behavioural indicators to spot harmful patterns early. The third focuses on support, treatment and recovery, including counselling and referral pathways integrated with health services.

The fourth pillar concerns the gambling environment, product design and marketing standards, including game architecture and how players move through a product, and calls for marketing that does not target vulnerable groups. The fifth promotes ethical industry practices and accountability, with operators expected to show measurable commitments to player welfare. The sixth covers research, evaluation and sustainable funding, with the aim of turning evidence into practical application.

The forum argues the framework matters because standards differ widely between jurisdictions, with some markets well developed and others still building their regulation. It positions the RG3P as a common reference point that can be adapted locally while keeping consistent principles, and hopes it will improve cooperation among regulators, operators, public health bodies, treatment providers and researchers.