The operator has also joined the National Council on Problem Gambling in recognising PGAM, where it will display new GameSense messaging prominently throughout MGM Resorts properties nationwide, as well as in the BetMGM app. 

Kindbridge Research Institute and Kindbridge Behavioral Health services help to “better understand the problems that exist within at-risk communities, delivering evidence-based treatment for gambling disorder”.

MGM Resorts has donated $100,000 to the Kindbridge Research Institute, supporting a voluntary medication trial for veterans experiencing gambling addiction in Las Vegas, a first-of-its-kind treatment to help “reduce gambling urges and symptom severity among veterans with gambling disorder”.

Treatment providers at the Las Vegas Veterans Affairs Residential Recovery and Renewal Center in partnership with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas will complete the research as part of the institute’s 50x4vets program, a multi-year research initiative to increase gambling disorder research in veterans by fifty times in four years.

“This contribution will help explore and identify innovative treatment for a population our company cares deeply about,” commented Stephen Martino, SVP and Chief Compliance Officer at MGM Resorts.

“We have a longstanding commitment to supporting military members and their families year-round and are privileged to invest in research that benefits this important community.”  

Nathan D Smith, Executive Director of Kindbridge Research Institute, stated: “This is such a promising intervention. We are so grateful for MGM Resorts’ support of this research to improve the lives of veterans and extend the work of the many great scientists, treatment providers, and donors of the 50x4vets program.” 

In addition, BetMGM and Kindbridge Behavioral Health have expanded their problem gambling referrals partnership.

Building off the BetMGM-Kindbridge Colorado pilot programme reaching its sixth month, the collaboration will provide problem gambling referrals in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ontario.

“We are proud to lead the way in providing individuals with this potentially life-changing support and are pleased with how the program has performed so far,” noted Rhea Loney, BetMGM’s Chief Compliance Officer. 

“This expanded investment underscores our dedication to ensuring those who need care can receive it. As access to sports betting and online gaming continues to grow, so should access to problem gambling treatment and care.”

The service will offer “direct access to comprehensive mental health assessments, treatment, and group support services”. 

Since being introduced in Colorado, residents who have opted to be banned from gambling through the state’s self-exclusion programme have actively received referrals for voluntary treatment from BetMGM.

“We welcome BetMGM’s decision to extend mental health services to players in distress across multiple jurisdictions,” added Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge Behavioral Health. 

“This initiative is a positive step toward supporting individuals facing challenges with gambling. It underscores the importance of accessible help and the role we all play in fostering safer gaming environments.”

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Through this collaboration, the AML risk management technology firm will utilise Kindbridge’s extensive network of researchers and clinicians to improve AI models and enhance product offerings for the industry.

As part of the cooperation, Kinectify has introduced an all-in-one RG platform. Integrating with its existing AML platform, the combined space offers dedicated AML and RG workspaces to help with monitoring, case management, reporting and player care tasks.

Kinectify added that “automated risk scoring and enhanced collaboration between AML and RG teams facilitate comprehensive support for individuals facing gambling-related challenges”.

Combining Kinectify’s AML technologies and KBH’s treatment network into their RG Case Management software, the partnership promises to “enable faster and more efficient access to care for those affected by gambling harms” and “connect the dots” between AML practices, gambling harm and direct treatment, “contributing to a comprehensive solution”.

“Mapping out as many ways as possible for people with a gambling problem to gain access to a network of trained providers that understand what they are going through is key to creating a safer gambling environment and a sustainable industry,” noted Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge.

“By teaming up with Kinectify to gain behavioural insights from their world-class AML technologies and by helping them round out their RG Case Management software with the KBH treatment network implemented and easy to deploy, we can now start to connect the link from AML to gambling harms to direct care access faster than ever before.“

In addition to the partnership, Kinectify CEO Joseph Martin has been added to the Kindbridge Research Institute board, which focuses on “developing effective treatment models and strategies through data analysis”. 

Having previously served in the US Marine Corps, Martin will offer valuable resources and insights on gambling harm, particularly within the military community, contributing to KRI’s military programs and research projects on gambling harms among military veterans. 

He added: “Applying our learnings from developing the most sophisticated transaction monitoring and case management system in the industry to problem gaming is exciting. We are thrilled to partner with Kindbridge, the first organisation solely focused on building treatment infrastructure through telehealth. 

“We look forward to testing a variety of treatment modalities on those that are more dangerously impacted from their gambling behaviour, and assisting states with solutions for treatment disparity gaps that exist due to a lack of trained resources in this field.

“Pairing the expertise of our top technologists and gaming experts with their vast network of researchers and clinicians allows us to train our AI models effectively and enhance our product offering to the industry for years to come.”

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Mindway AI

Mindway AI has expanded its business development team with the additions of Stephen Aupy and Niamh Gallagher.

Joining as Business Development Manager, Aupy will help Mindway grow and expand to boost player protection in several markets. He was previously VP of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Manager at Gamban.

Gallagher joins the firm as a Social Media and Marketing Manager. She previously worked as Head of Marketing at consultancy Usability Digital.

Rasmus Kjaergaard, Mindway AI CEO, said: “I’d officially like to welcome Niamh and Stephen to the team and say how thrilled we are to have you both on board. This is a huge milestone for Mindway AI as we continue our journey to becoming a major force for player protection in the global gambling industry.”

Kindbridge

Kindbridge has hired David Jacques Farahi as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In this role, Farahi will be tasked with embedding mental health services and products into the casino industry’s player journey to advance consumer protections.

He has previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Casino & Resort and as Executive Chairman of Quick Custom Intelligence.

“I am thrilled to join the Kindbridge team and to be a part of their mission to improve the lives of people struggling with gambling and gaming disorders,” Farahi said.

“I look forward to leveraging my experience in the gaming and healthcare industries to help Kindbridge continue to innovate and provide the highest quality care for its patients.”

Kindbridge CEO and Founder, Daniel Umfleet, noted: “We are excited to have David on board as our Executive Chairman. His expertise and leadership will be instrumental in advancing our mission to provide the highest quality behavioural health services to those in need.”

Lion Gaming 

Lion Gaming has added over a decade of executive experience in igaming to its team with the appointment of Christine Lewis as Vice President of European Operations.

Lewis has previously worked for NetEnt, Yolo Group and Pariplay, helping to drive commercial growth and implement strategic growth initiatives.

Commenting on her appointment, Lewis said: “I am thrilled to join the Lion Gaming team and work alongside such a talented group of individuals. I am excited to contribute to the continued growth and success of the company, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

As the VP of European Operations, she will lead Lion Gaming’s new market expansions and help deliver innovative gaming products and services.

“Christine’s dedication and success in the igaming industry are unparalleled,” added Duncan McIntyre, President & CEO of Lion Gaming.

“We are thrilled to have her on board as our VP of European Operations, and we are confident that her leadership and expertise will drive our company to new heights.”

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, which owns and manages the Monte-Carlo Casino in the Principality of Monaco, has added Vincent Bouvet as an Administrative and Financial Director.

Bouvet’s experience includes over 20 years with Sodexo Group, a French food services and facilities management company, where he held the position of CFO across various segments globally.

He replaces former CFO Yves de Toytot, who is leaving Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer to pursue personal opportunities, according to Monaco Life.

CEO Stéphane Valeri commented: “I would like to thank Yves de Toytot, who has been with the company since 1997 as Financial Controller, then Chief Financial Officer in 2004 and since 2011 as Deputy Managing Director of Finance, for all the work carried out with his teams during these years, during which he implemented numerous financial projects both from a structural and operational point of view.

“His commitment to Société des Bains de Mer has also led him to successfully represent the latter in various bodies and subsidiaries, and manage important financial files and transactions. I welcome and wish Vincent Bouvet every success in his new role at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.”

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Kindbridge is a national telehealth provider specialising in gambling and video gaming problem behaviours and addiction treatment, along with co-occurring mental health challenges through therapy and counselling. 

The agreement will see DruvStar assist Kindbridge with its cyber security in both software development and live operations to make sure it can offer help to gamblers struggling with their mental health safely and securely.

Manjit Gombra Singh, CEO and Founder of DruvStar, noted: “This partnership gets to the core of the mission for DruvStar, to provide premium cyber-defence for gaming and healthcare service providers.

“Together, the two companies will ensure that Kindbridge technology is built and operated with the best industry practices in cybersecurity. Client, patient, and partner data will be safe on the Kindbridge platform.”

Kindbridge’s goal is to provide clients and patients with a safe and confidential space for counselling and therapy. It also strives to build the US’ largest network of mental health treatment providers with a focus on high-quality, specialised care.

The company partnered with the NFL Players Association’s Professional Athletes Foundation in October for the creation of a new program to open the dialogue regarding the importance of mental health in sports.

However, with the healthcare sector seeing an average of 1,426 attacks per week, Kindbridge is teaming up with Druvstar to keep ahead of these cyber security threats.

“DruvStar brings the added layer of security that we feel our clients deserve,” added Daniel Umfleet, CEO and Founder of Kindbridge.

“We’re pleased that as we grow, DruvStar can help us scale our tech with a world-class level of defence.”

Recently, DruvStar expanded its services into the states of Ohio, Maryland, and Louisiana, and began providing its cyber security solutions to the betting platform SB22.

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This move will see the online gaming and sports betting operator, which also becomes the sole corporate sponsor, assist veterans transitioning from military service to pursuing advanced training in public mental health research.

“It is a privilege to be able to play a leading role in supporting the next generation of researchers while training veterans for new careers in concert with KRI,” said Chrissy Thurmond, DraftKings’ Senior Director of Responsible Gaming. 

“DraftKings has a deep tradition of supporting the military community as part of its Tech for Heroes initiative and S.E.R.V.E.S. corporate social responsibility program, which has previously provided support for KRI’s ongoing research designed to provide a solution to the lack of information about problem gaming among veterans. 

“We will continue to seek out ways to give back to service members, veterans and their families.”

The initiative has been built with an ambition of increasing the number of veterans trained to work in mental health research and treatment.

It is hoped that the program will enable those transitioning to provide support across a multitude of key areas including academic skill building, such as writing, literature search and review, study design and execution, as well as resume building, which includes publishing peer-reviewed articles. 

Participants will dedicate two years to the KRI program in order to develop the advanced training in mental health research necessary for continuing their education at the graduate level.

The first year will see participants be expected to publish a minimum of one academic paper in a peer-reviewed journal, as well as present a poster or speak at one academic conference.

“We are thrilled to team up with DraftKings on this one-of-a-kind program. At KRI, we believe that no one understands the mental health struggles of veterans better than veterans themselves,” said Nathan Smith, Ph.D., KRI’s Executive Director. 

“This program provides training and support for transitioning service members into public mental health professionals. The ultimate goal is to ensure those who served in the armed forces have a voice in the discussion of veteran mental health for generations to come.”

In 2021, DraftKings announced a multi-year financial commitment to KRI for a research initiative designed to provide a solution to the lack of information about problem gaming among veterans, with the ultimate goal of advancing evidence-based research in this area and improving the lives of such individuals.

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The behaviour health expert has said that it is aiming to “open and lead the dialogue on the vital importance of mental health in sport”.

This initiative provides a dedicated space, that is player led, to talk confidentially amongst their fraternity in virtual group settings, with the program open to discuss an array of topics that include depression, anxiety, marriage and substance use, along with the impacts of problematic gambling.

Tyrone Allen, Director of the PAF, explained: “The players asked, and we are delivering! This program is an essential step to making more mental health resources available to our retired players community.” 

The NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation supports former players with various resources and services that will now include a program that is aiming to dispel myths and alleviate stigma surrounding mental health. 

Data taken from the first six months of the program will be used to show the efficacy of groups led by licensed mental health specialists, with data from 18 months to be utilised to track health outcomes for former players who participate.  

Daniel Umfleet, Founder and CEO of Kindbridge, said: “The building of robust internal infrastructure to support psychological and mental health is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Professional Athletes Foundation to take these issues seriously. 

“With a huge national and global audience, it is highly encouraging to see the PAF lead by example while playing a major role in destigmatising mental health issues in sport, in the US and beyond. 

“Gambling is another concern that can compound or create serious mental health related problems. Together with the PAF we look forward to supporting former NFL players on their journey to better understanding their own mental health.”

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The appointments who are all seasoned in mental health and combatting gambling addiction will support KindBridge on its mission to become “an integral part of the consumer protection system for gambling”.

Providing best-in-class teletherapy support, Kindbridge seeks to operate at the intersection of state and regulator policy.

Marked as a key objective, Kindbridge aims to ‘bridge the gap’ as demand currently in the US as demand of specialist mental healthcare outweighs existing provisions, limiting support for victims, vulnerable people and their families.

The former Legislative Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, Brianne Doura-Schawohl, is the founder and CEO of Doura-Schawohl Consulting LLC.

She most recently served as Vice President of US Policy and Strategic Development for EPIC Risk Management, a global harm prevention consultancy conducting work in over 24 countries.

An expert in the lived experience of mental health disorders and recovery, Eric Kussin is a former executive of the NBA and NHL pro-sports leagues.

In 2017, Kussin launched a non-profit called: #SameHere, The Global Mental Health Alliance. The Alliance is comprised of athletes, celebrities, media, expert practitioners, advocates, and everyday heroes who have come together to normalize society’s perception of mental health and make it part of everyday conversation.

Kindbridge’s boardroom appointments are completed by US gambling expert Seth Young, the current Chief Strategy Officer of Fifth Street Gaming Digital and Managing Partner at The Strategy Organization, a full-service gaming consultancy.

The trio have outlined their commitment to improving the reach and coverage of US treatment support services for gambling harms, as

left untreated, mental health issues can have a devastating impact on work, education, relationships, and physical and mental health.

Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge, said: “This strategic expansion of the Board offers an opportunity to provide high-quality mental health services for employees and patrons of sportsbooks, casinos, and associated businesses. People experiencing mental health conditions are up to 17 times more likely to develop gambling disorder if gambling becomes a regular form of entertainment for them.

“Given the state of mental health in the US and the rapid expansion of legal sports betting, we have a unique opportunity to provide more screening and education, while simultaneously building a national network of care providers that understand the complexities of gambling disorder.”

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The research will focus on the mental health of gamblers, gamers and those suffering from digital dependency in order to identify areas to help and support them. This will result in the creation of an evidence-based model for gambling treatment in a telehealth setting through the newly formed Kindbridge Research Institute. 

The aim of the partnership is to use technological advancements to improve the understanding and treatment of gambling and digital dependency related harms, enhancing treatment efficacy in a virtual setting. 

The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey is being commissioned by the Kindbridge Research Institute to set up the evidence-based telehealth model, which will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and support for digital gambling related harm. 

“The research partnership with Kindbridge and Rutgers University will play a critical role in helping the sector design and deliver high quality digital wellbeing and mental health support for those at-risk and affected by gambling related harm.” said Mor Weizer, Playtech CEO, adding: 

“We are delighted to partner with Kindbridge Research Institute and Kindbridge clinical network as they pioneer the next generation of gambling treatment, services and support in the US.”

Kindbridge is working to create access to care pathways through telehealth that will eliminate barriers for gamblers and gamers to specially trained resources that can help them actively manage their mental health. 

In order to do this, the virtual mental health clinic is working with US casino operators as well as insurance companies and social impact organisations, allowing the institute to analyse player data, alongside its own retrieved from its clinical network, to provide a better understanding of the origins of potential harmful gambling and gaming behaviour. 

The data research will be used to create personalised intelligent approaches to treatment, designed to have the greatest impact for those that need help, and is expected to become available within the next 18-24 months. 

Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University and lead researcher on this study, commented: “We are excited to partner with Kindbridge to build a standardized and effective treatment framework for problem gambling and video gaming. 

“Kindbridge is the first treatment agency in the U.S. that is exclusively focused in these areas, and delivering treatment we can test for effectiveness fills an unmet need in this time of rapid expansion.”

Through the partnership, Playtech is also providing Kindbridge with knowledge and support on digital learning from its Playtech Academy team, helping to build the Kindbridge Internal Learning Management System to be used by therapists and internal staff. Kindbridge’s therapists will undertake thorough training while Playtech helps to digitise its content. 

Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge, concluded: “Combining data from players and Kindbridge’s clinical network will result in meaningful insight that has never before been achieved.

“The scale of the data sets mean we can gain in-depth understanding into those who are currently suffering from harmful gambling behaviours, as well as members of their support network who may also be affected.

“This research will allow data scientists, academics and researchers to gain more insight on effective support and treatment in a digital environment than ever before.”

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Both parties aim to drive increased awareness, research and specialist mental health services “to the underserved population of problematic gamers,” with the link-up tasked with delivering a support pathway and allowing for better data and research on gaming overuse.

Jason Docton, CEO of Rise Above the Disorder, commented: “We’re incredibly honoured to welcome Kindbridge as a partner. Rise Above The Disorder has spent the last decade covering the cost of mental health care for tens of thousands of people. 

“It’s our fundamental belief that everyone deserves access to the highest quality mental health care. With Kindbridge, we’re able to confidently refer people to the highest quality of care for problematic gambling and gaming behaviours. This couldn’t have come at a better time with the rise of gambling mechanics and sports wagering becoming more common in the gaming world.“

The partnership with Rise Above The Disorder, a non-profit organisation that provides gamers with access to free mental health services through grant funding, will enable Kindbridge to offer treatment to the gaming community.

Kindbridge’s teletherapy expertise and experience in treating disorders will be used to establish ‘virtual best practice’ to improve treatment efficacy, with the firm having also set up a ‘Scientific Advisor Board’ to lead research and add to the growing knowledge in this field.

“The link-up with Rise Above the Disorder will help to drive the much-needed recognition and conversation about the necessity of mental health support for gamers,” added Daniel Umfleet, Kindbridge CEO. 

“We are so grateful that both organisations can also help to provide vital data which will help us better understand the player’s journey from initial engagement all the way through their recovery journey as well as support our efforts to have the DSM recognise gaming.”

Kindbridge is lobbying to have gaming disorder included in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), the internationally referred diagnostic tool of the American Psychiatric Association.

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The Counter-Strike Professional Players Association, Kindbridge, and Rise Above the Disorder have been welcomed as partners, with its ongoing collaboration with Epic Risk Management deepened further still. Each organisation seeks to bridge the gap between demand and availability of affordable professional, individual therapy and care 

They will provide mental health support services and education for players potentially at risk and will work internationally with the company and Entain Foundation, its non-profit charity dedicated to promoting responsible gambling, sports integrity, and corporate compliance.

Martin Lycka, senior vice president for American regulatory affairs and responsible gambling at Entain and trustee of the Entain Foundation US, explained: “We are committed to supporting initiatives that encourage responsible gambling and gaming in every way we can. 

“The vast majority of people who enjoy playing for fun have no problems whatsoever, and we want to leverage our capabilities to offer them additional experiences whilst keeping all our customers safe. 

“These new partnerships are initial steps in this and other new directions as we both expand our offer to customers and the protections we put in place to protect the very small number who may be at risk.”  

This latest announcement supports Entain’s planned expansion into video-gaming and esports, alongside furthering its commitment to responsible gaming.

Counter-Strike Professional Players Association is the worldwide association for professional players of the largely popular Counter-Strike video game, which regularly features in esports events.

Epic Risk Management, an international consultancy specialising in prevention of gambling-related harm, already works with Entain both internationally and in the US and will now be extending its activity further, also to address video gaming and esports.

Rise Above the Disorder is a non-profit organisation based in the US dedicated to helping people suffering from disorders connected to video gaming, with Kindbridge a teletherapy company focused specifically on the treatment of gamblers and gamers struggling with their mental health. 

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