Watch: How can the iGaming industry truly protect its players?
At SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, the IMGL Masterclass Talk: Practical Tools To Support Responsible Gambling and Player Protection, powered by IMGL, gathered some of the world’s leading gaming advisors and operators to discuss the state of player protection in regulated markets.
The session was moderated by Quirino Mancini, Group Strategic Advisor – Gambling, Media & Sport at WH Partners and featured Reuben Portanier, Partner at GTG, Luis Portela de Carvalho, Partner at Lektou, Ron Segev, Founding Partner at Segev LLP and Jochen Biewer, Managing Director at Chevron Group.
Understanding the current landscape
Mancini opened the discussion by highlighting IMGL’s global network of over 320 members, emphasising its engagement with regulators and policymakers. “The way forward for this industry is a more interactive and cooperative relationship with regulators, particularly on hot issues like player protection and responsible gambling,” he said.
Reuben Portanier reflected on the varied European regulatory landscape. “Each country regulates gaming differently, supposedly with the same principle in mind, protecting players, yet the prevalence of problem gambling has stayed around 1% for over a decade,” he noted. This sparked a conversation on the effectiveness of national regulations versus harmonised approaches across Europe.
Luis Portela de Carvalho added a practical perspective from Portugal. “Some measures, like heavy taxation, have pushed major operators out, and in many cases, regulations are driven more by revenue than player protection,” he said. He stressed the importance of industry cooperation, “All regulated operators need to present a unified proposal to regulators to promote responsible gambling effectively.”
Global insights and regulatory gaps
Jochen Biewer provided insights from Germany, highlighting the three pillars of responsible gambling regulation, marketing restrictions, product restrictions and early detection systems. He stressed that overregulation can drive players toward the black market, while flexible approaches, like Malta’s guidelines, allow operators to adapt tools to emerging trends.
Ron Segev brought a North American perspective, referencing Ontario’s commercial partnership model with operators. “If you don’t protect RG, you won’t have a sustainable industry. Transparency is key. Ontario publicly shares enforcement findings, which instills confidence and sets a base standard,” he explained. He also highlighted the challenge of cryptocurrency casinos and the need for regulators to understand evolving market behaviours.
The way forward
The panel concluded with actionable advice for the industry. Portanier emphasised the need for unified dialogue with lawmakers, supported by accurate data. Biewer highlighted anonymised market data as a training tool for regulators, while Segev encouraged regulators to engage directly with the industry, “Visit shows like this, see the market firsthand, and understand why players gravitate to certain products.” The discussion underscored that responsible gambling is not just about compliance but about sustainable industry practices, informed regulation and global collaboration.
For more insights on responsible gaming and the future of iGaming, join the next SiGMA World summit in Rome from 02-05 November 2026. Discover new technologies, meet global leaders and shape the future of player protection.
