New York has become the stage for a milestone in the gambling industry as the Better Gambling Forum launches alongside the 80th United Nations General Assembly General Debate (23–29 September 2025). The initiative introduces the Responsible Gambling Practice and Policy Pillars (RG3P), a multilateral framework designed to create shared standards for player protection and harm prevention worldwide.

Prevention at the Core of RG3P

Unlike traditional compliance-driven approaches, the RG3P framework is rooted in public health and brain health. Its purpose is to shift the focus toward:

1. Prevention and education for players
2. Early detection of risky behavior
3. Timely interventions
4. Access to treatment and recovery pathways

This comprehensive cycle aims to reduce gambling-related harm by embedding prevention as a foundation for sustainability in both online and land-based markets.

A Framework That Transcends Borders

With gambling increasingly operating across jurisdictions through digital platforms, the RG3P introduces a common language and comparable metrics to help governments and regulators harmonize strategies. The framework is not meant to replace local laws but to complement existing regulations, making good practices more effective and scalable on a global level.

Independent Scientific Governance

A distinguishing feature of the Better Gambling Forum is its commitment to independent oversight. An external scientific committee ensures:

1. Transparency in methodology
2. Evidence-based standards
3. Conflict-free governance

This independence is seen as crucial in a sector where the tension between commercial growth and consumer protection often creates mistrust, particularly in the digital gambling landscape that exposes younger generations to heightened risks.

From Principles to Practice

The urgency to act is clear: gambling is globalizing at digital speed, and regulation must keep up. The RG3P framework provides policymakers with tools to:

1. Measure outcomes
2. Raise safety standards progressively
3. Strengthen operator accountability

The challenge, according to organizers, lies in transforming high-level principles into verifiable, real-world practices backed by governments, regulators, and the industry.

A Policy Laboratory, Not Just a Conference

The Better Gambling Forum has been designed as a policy laboratory. Rather than static presentations, participants engage with:

1. Case studies
2. Scalable models for online and retail gambling
3. Metrics adaptable across jurisdictions

This “living framework” approach ensures RG3P will evolve alongside scientific research and field data.

A Global Signal: Gambling as a Public Health Issue

By launching within the UN Science Summit, the initiative sends a political and cultural message: gambling-related harm is no longer only a regulatory or financial issue, but a matter of public health, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

Key priorities include:

1. Protecting minors and vulnerable populations
2. Combating illegal gambling markets where safeguards are absent
3. Using behavioral analytics to identify early warning signs

International Connections and Future Prospects

The RG3P aligns with previous multilateral efforts, including the G7 Canada Brain Economy Summit, but takes a step further by proposing an operational draft standard for governments and regulators. Although not yet endorsed by the G20, the framework is positioned as a platform for convergence on responsible gambling worldwide.

For RG3P to succeed, it will require:

1. Political commitment
2. Financial investment
3. Industry adoption of accountability standards

If successful, the initiative could usher in a new era of preventive, transparent, and internationally consistent player protection, balancing market growth with consumer well-being.