Public Health Advocacy Institute organizes international symposium to highlight dangers of online gambling

The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) will host an international symposium: "Online Gambling and the Public Health Movement" on 24 April, 2026 at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. 

The event invites researchers, policymakers, scholars and public health professionals to analyse the effects of online gambling on the US public.

Mark Gottlieb, PHAI Executive Director, said: “Over the past twenty years, online gambling has come to dominate American sports, and particularly the world of sports. 

“We firmly believe gambling should be regulated like any other addictive product.” 

It remains unclear whether any gambling regulators have been invited to speak at the event.

The confirmed roster includes Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia; Paul Tonko, US Congressman; and Matt Gaskell, the Clinical Lead and Consultant Psychologist at the UK's National Health Service (NHS) Northern Gambling Service.

Gottlieb continued: “By convening international researchers and US leaders, this symposium will highlight how evidence-based policies can reduce harm and protect public health.”

The panels will discuss the industry’s current approach to responsible gambling, federal safety standards, and policy approaches aimed at reducing harm and protecting the overall public health.

Harry Levant, PHAI's Director of Gambling Policy, said: "The rapid expansion of online gambling demands a public health response. 

“This landmark event will bring together the world's leading voices in the public health movement to confront the state of online gambling and the urgent need for comprehensive regulation to protect individuals and families from an industry that continues to prioritize profits over public health."

However, it is worth noting that PHAI is currently in the midst of a lawsuit against DraftKings, FanDuel, Genius Sports, and the National Football League (NFL).

The organization claims the companies have created, distributed, and profited from an inherently dangerous product that encourages betting behaviors resulting in addiction.