ROGA and RGC Launch Certification Program to Set New Responsible Gaming Standard

A New Framework for Player Protection

The new certification program will be built on a structured, data-driven framework designed to evaluate an operator’s performance across several key areas of responsible gaming. These include:

• Self-exclusion programs and player support tools.
• Marketing and advertising practices.
• Staff training and education.

A central goal of the program is to encourage operators to voluntarily adopt best practices that exceed the baseline requirements set by state regulators. The certification will serve as an independent assessment of an operator’s commitment to player well-being, with a focus on long-term accountability and the continuous evolution of safety standards.

An Industry-Led, Expert-Guided Initiative

The partnership pairs the industry’s most prominent operators with a globally recognized, independent expert in player protection. ROGA, which launched in March 2024, is comprised of eight of the nation’s largest online gaming companies. The RGC is an independent non-profit organization with over 40 years of experience in problem gambling prevention and research.

“A sustainable online gaming industry must be built on evidence-based best practices, and this partnership with RGC will advance this mission by building a trusted and independent assessment to certify robust responsible gaming standards,” said ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley.

The RGC’s expertise will be central to developing and managing the program, bringing a layer of independent credibility to the industry’s efforts.

“We are proud to work with ROGA in setting a new benchmark for responsible gambling in the online space,” said Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council. “By working together, we are creating a more transparent, accountable, and player-focused industry.”

Building on a Foundation of Collaboration

This new initiative is not the first collaboration between the two organizations. ROGA and the RGC have previously worked together on joint research projects, including a study on how to increase player engagement with responsible gaming tools. They also partnered on the “Know Your Play” college education campaign.

The immediate next step is for ROGA and the RGC to develop the certification framework. Once complete, the program will be used to assess all of ROGA’s member operators. The organizations have stated that details on how non-member companies can participate will be shared once the framework is finalized, signaling an intent to make this a new industry-wide standard.