Explore recent and past presentations and posters published by RGC’s Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices
Published Research and Insight Projects
Read recent and past research projects and reports published by RGC’s Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices.
Responsible Gambling
- Gambling During COVID-19 in Ontario
March 2022
The Responsible Gambling Council
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the everyday life of all Canadians. In Ontario, the impact has been reflected in the series of emergency measures declared by the provincial government starting March 17, 2020.
With the limited availability of land-based gambling venues and in-person gambling-related help services throughout the duration of the pandemic, RGC’s Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices (CABP), in collaboration with the Ontario Gambling Research Society (OGRS), rapidly conceived and implemented a three-wave provincial survey study to examine the impacts of COVID-19 on Ontarians’ gambling behaviours, financial stability, and mental health and wellbeing. The results of this work now provide an empirical record of the impact of COVID-19 on players, families, and communities.
This study has also allowed RGC to make evidence-informed changes and improvements to its community outreach and prevention programming, as well as demonstrate leadership through supporting consumer protection and harm reduction in Ontario during COVID-19 and the expansion of online gambling.
- Prevention Insights: Gambling Harm Prevention in Chinese, South Asian, and Indigenous Communities
December 2021
The Responsible Gambling Council
During the pandemic, between April and December 2020, evidence from RGC’s longitudinal gambling research in Ontario revealed that people of Chinese and South Asian descents who gambled had a much greater likelihood of experiencing severe gambling problems, intoxicated gambling, mental health problems, and endorsing risky gambling motives, compared to the general gambling population. While it is broadly known that these communities of gamblers, including Indigenous peoples, experience gambling problems disproportionately, there are many unanswered questions related to current trends in 2021 and how to effectively and appropriately increase awareness and knowledge of responsible gambling among these groups.
This research project was designed to provide recommendations on messaging content and format to support the development of RGC’s Ministry of Health-funded problem gambling prevention programs. It identifies insights that are specific and relevant to key communities and aims to ensure that approaches moving forward are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
- Responsible Sports Betting in Canada: Summary Report
September 2021
The Responsible Gambling Council
RGC’s Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices is pleased to release the first Canada-wide single-event sports betting study supporting the development of evidence-informed strategies and best-practices for responsible gambling across the country—particularly in the online space.
This baseline study includes a high level assessment of regulatory and operational issues relating to the legalization of single-event sports betting in Canada and an extensive survey (n=5,003) of player support needs and expectations.
Download the Full Executive Summary
- Determining Evidence-Informed Options for Responsible Gambling and Harm Minimization in the Field of Online Lottery
October 2020
The Responsible Gambling Council
Online lottery is an area of gambling that has seen accelerated expansion in recent years and yet our understanding of responsible gambling best practices trails other forms of gambling operations, such as casino and sports betting.
This project identified evidence supporting responsible gambling best practices relevant to online lottery through a systematic search and rapid review of research literature and assessed adoption of responsible gambling practices through a review of 13 international lottery operators. A synthesis of all information was developed to produce key recommendations for the future development of this field.
- The Emerging Impact of COVID-19 on Gambling in Ontario
July 15 2020
The Responsible Gambling Council
In Ontario, COVID-19 has had a profound effect on public health and every-day life. In part, this impact has been reflected in the provincial government’s emergency measures declaration on March 17, 2020. These measures have resulted in the restriction of most hospitality and recreation businesses, including in-person gambling facilities, and many non-essential workplaces.
In order to understand the effects of the pandemic on Ontarian gamblers and make evidence-informed changes and improvements to community outreach and prevention programming, the RGC’s Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices rapidly conceived and implemented a provincial study.
Download the Report
- A Framework for VLT Safeguards in Canadian Hospitality Settings
February 2019
Responsible Gambling Council
In the past two decades, there has been a considerable increase in our understanding of responsible gambling policies, strategies and safeguards for players in different gambling settings. The preponderance of the ‘best practices’ research and analysis however, has been focused on gambling venues like casinos and, more recently, online gambling. Responsible gambling programs and player supports in hospitality establishments such as bars, lounges and restaurants have received less attention.
This report is intended to be one contribution towards closing that gap.
The report provides an up-to-date picture of VLT gambling as well as the RG policies, player safeguards, and resources currently in place across Canada, and offers a series of recommendations which constitute a framework of best practice safeguards specific to VLT play in hospitality settings.
Download the Report
- Responsible Gambling Best Practices for Player Incentives: Land-Based Venues
March 2015
Responsible Gambling Council
This project focuses on player incentives at land-based venues and gathers information from Canadian and international jurisdictions. Literature and policy reviews, a focus group, and a two-day forum are all used to obtain data.
On balance, player loyalty programs—as long as they are not seen exclusively as a marketing tool – have some potential benefits from a player protection perspective. That assumes that loyalty programs and other incentives actively build in tools and analytics that enable increased player information and safeguards. The report outlines best practices in the following areas:
- Promoting informed decision-making
- Ensuring marketing incorporates an RG perspective
- Optimizing RG in the earning and redemption of rewards
- Supporting at-risk players
Download the Report
Gambling Problems & Harm
- Best Practices for Self-Exclusion Reinstatement and Renewal
March 2016
Responsible Gambling Council
This research project investigates and identifies best practices for self-exclusion reinstatement and renewal. Specific objectives are threefold:
- Compile an inventory of reinstatement and renewal options applicable to both land-based and online gaming environments
- Provide an assessment of pros and cons related to various reinstatement and renewal options
- Synthesize the best available evidence and knowledge on promising reinstatement and renewal options
The findings of this report favour an active reinstatement process that offers two streams based on the presence or absence of risk warning signs at the end of a self-exclusion term. Following the completion of a self-exclusion term, an operator assesses markers that may represent risks of future problems. The risk assessment process then takes into account such things as history of multiple breaches, as well as their risk signs including family concerns, records of unstable or threatening behaviour and other red flag indicators.
Download the Report
Youth & Young Adults
- Youth Gambling (8-24) in Ontario: Developing Best Practices for Prevention and Treatment
September 2016
Responsible Gambling Council
This executive summary provides an overview of the results from a quantitative survey conducted with 2,651 adolescents (12-17), young adults (18-24), and parents of children 8-17 in Ontario to increase our understanding of the progression of gambling involvement from childhood to young adulthood.
Key findings for gambling behaviours and motivations, gambling problems, attitudes towards gambling, and video game playing across age groups are reviewed.
Download the Executive Summary
Explore Past Reports
- 2010 – 2014
Responsible Gambling for Lotteries
Jan 10, 2014
Responsible Gambling Council
Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario
Jun 26, 2013
Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre & The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
Monetary Limits Tools for Internet Gamblers
Jun 14, 2013
Responsible Gambling Council
Responding to Patrons with Potential Gambling Problems
Nov 8, 2012
Responsible Gambling Council
Jul 7, 2011
Responsible Gambling Council
About the Responsible Gambling Council
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safer gambling by influencing positive change and advancing responsible gambling standards in Canada and around the world.