Reflections from RGC Discovery 2026: Connection, Momentum, and What’s Coming Next

Monika, VP Communications, CACCF

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Responsible Gambling Council’s Discovery Conference in Toronto—an event that brings together leaders in the field who are committed to reducing gambling-related harm. Over the course of three days, I, along with fellow members of the CACCF Executive Team, participated in important discussions with our friends and partners that made it clearer than ever that our work needs to evolve. Collaboration across the sector has never been more important, and the excitement in the room grew with each day of the conference as we looked ahead to the opportunities in front of us.

Conversations moved between research, policy, and practice. Sessions on emerging trends in sports betting, youth gambling and digital environments, and the growing role of technology in player protection reinforced something we see every day in our work: the challenges are complex, but we have the expertise to address them.

A particularly meaningful moment for me came during the opening remarks, when Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, recognized the work of the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation:

“Preventing gambling harm takes collective action. The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation is doing fantastic work to ensure there are certified addictions counsellors in the gaming space.”

It was important to be in the room when CACCF was acknowledged. In a space filled with leading government regulators it underscored the importance of ensuring that certified, well-trained addictions counsellors are part of the broader responsible gambling ecosystem—and that our work is being seen and valued by our partners.

For our team, this year’s conference was also an opportunity to quietly preview something new. Over the past several months, we’ve been developing an innovative project that reflects where we believe support in this sector needs to go: more immediate, more accessible, and more responsive to individuals in critical moments. While we’re not quite ready to share full details, the early conversations we had at RGC Discovery confirmed that this kind of evolution is not only timely, but necessary.

As I reflect back on our experience, I feel a strong sense of momentum. The conversations happening across this space are becoming more nuanced, more interdisciplinary, and more focused on impact. We are facing some challenges in this space, but we also know that within these challenges lie opportunity, and it is clear that we have the network and partnerships in full support of collaborative approaches.

We’re grateful to have been part of this year’s conference, and we’re looking forward to what comes next for CACCF, for our partners, and for the sector as a whole.