What practices are being used tocombat problem gambling in 2026, and which have you found to be most effective at the Tribal level? 

In 2026, the biggest tool and resource used to combat problem gambling continues to be the self-exclusion program that many Tribes, as well as commercial operators, utilize with the patron. Even though they’re within the industry, vendors, Tribes and commercial gaming operators are starting to expand upon those resources when it comes to problem gambling, and what we can do inside and outside the casino. Certain operations now apply responsible gambling ambassadors on the gaming floor, not necessarily to go up to patrons and identify them as someone having an issue, but to spark up a conversation and see if that patron may need assistance. 

A patron can sit down and have a conversation with someone who is better trained to navigate them through their problem gambling, or help them identify what resources are best for them. Other things that we’re starting to see come up, but not necessarily widely implemented yet, are safe wallets where you can set a betting limit. I don’t know if that’s going to take place here in the US as much as it does in other parts of the world, but I think that’s a unique identifying tool. Something else I’m curious about is how AI can be applied here and what those metrics actually look like, when it comes to identifying someone who may have a problem gambling habit. 

How is the growth of sports betting, iGaming and even prediction markets influencing responsible gambling 
necessities for Tribes? 

It enhances the need. It speaks louder to us more than ever because, as we continue to go digital, we begin to look at how it impacts our youth. Everybody has access to a digital device, whether that be a desktop, phone or iPad, so everybody has easy access to gaming in that sense. TCRG is positioning itself to be there for the Tribes when they’re ready to enhance those player protections and 
responsible gambling standards to the way they want them to be built.

The conversation when we are meeting with Tribes is ‘if we don’t do it ourselves, at some point, the state or Federal Government is going to tell us how to do it.’ 

TCRG helps the Tribe determine how they want their program to work, set those standards and present them in a way where, as litigation and everything continues to move forward, the Tribes are already taking steps to protect the community.

Having recently launched the nationwide self-exclusion program, why did you feel it was necessary to implement a Tribally controlled multi-property solution? 

One of the reasons was so the Tribes maintain control of their data. The Tribes are then able to take it, analyze it and implement it to what their community actually needs or, as a whole, what we can build out as Tribal nations to better support one another. The data is always a sensitive talking point. ‘What’s done with it? How does it impact us?’ Tribes are in a better position to decide how they can use funding to grow resources within their community for mental health, awareness and building out responsible gambling educational training sessions. We’re then better positioned to use those funds the way we need to use them – and not be told how we should use them. 

What do you believe are the most prominent threats to responsible gambling in Tribal communities as we sit here today? 

I had to learn about prediction markets and I think that truly does serve as the greatest threat to Tribal gaming right now. They’re rapidly growing – and it’s an industry that is not well regulated at the moment. If we look at how regulated Tribal gaming is when it comes to integrity and safeguards, yet we still have problems with responsible gambling and player protections, I can’t imagine the massive intake which happens when you can bet on anything at any time. That’s just so crazy to me. 

It almost feels illegal to me for prediction markets to be in existence, without knowing much about them or without having to run the tide with them. I just don’t know what to say, but I do think it’s the greatest threat to us right now. I think this is something we’ll prevail in – but it’s one of our biggest fights yet.