Patrick Kennedy to Discuss Gambling Harm at SBC Summit Americas
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Former US Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy will join a player protection discussion at SBC Summit Americas next month.
He will bring his experience in mental health and addiction policy to one of the event’s key responsible gambling sessions.
The session, titled “Building a Public Health Response to Gaming Harm”, is scheduled to take place on June 10 during SBC Summit Americas at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. The event runs from June 9 to June 11 and is expected to attract gambling industry stakeholders from across North and Latin America.
Focus on Gambling Harm and Player Protection
Kennedy will participate in a panel examining gambling-related harm from public health, policy and industry perspectives. The discussion forms part of SBC’s partnership with the Better Gambling Forum, an initiative focused on promoting evidence-based approaches to reducing gambling-related harm and strengthening player protection measures.
Organisers said the panel will explore issues including public awareness, early intervention, research and collaboration between healthcare professionals, policymakers and gambling operators. The discussion will also examine the impact that widespread access to betting may be having on younger audiences.
Mental Health Advocate and Former Congressman
Kennedy served 16 years in the US House of Representatives and became one of the country's most recognised advocates for mental health and addiction reform. He was the lead sponsor of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which became law in 2008 and expanded access to mental health and addiction treatment across the United States.
Since leaving Congress, Kennedy has continued to work on mental health policy through The Kennedy Forum and other organisations focused on behavioural health, addiction and healthcare reform. He has also authored books on mental health and co-founded several initiatives aimed at improving awareness and treatment access.
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Experts from Healthcare and Gaming to Join Discussion
Kennedy will be joined by a panel of specialists from healthcare, academia and the gambling industry. Participants include Dr Nathan Carroll, National Medical Director at InSite Health; Dr Eraka Bath, Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine; Toby Ewing of Stanford School of Medicine; and Paul Pellizzari, Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Hard Rock International. The session will be moderated by Almond Digital Health CEO Kevin Winters.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said bringing together voices from public health, healthcare, policymaking and the gaming industry was essential to advancing discussions around player protection and gambling harm.
The session forms part of a wider responsible gambling programme at SBC Summit Americas, which will also feature a dedicated Player Protection Symposium focused on education, research and collaboration across the sector. The player protection session adds to SBC Summit Americas’ wider 2026 agenda, which also includes interactive masterclasses for attendees.
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