Former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy is set to join a player protection panel at the SBC Summit Americas in Fort Lauderdale on June 10. He brings a wealth of experience in mental health and addiction policy to a conversation focused on mitigating gambling-related harm.
Kennedy will be featured in the session titled “Creating a Public Health Framework for Gaming Harm,” which is slated for 11:30 a.m. on the Leaders Stage at the Broward County Convention Center.
This session is part of the larger SBC Summit Americas event from June 9-11, which aims to unite key players from the betting and gaming industries across North and Latin America for networking opportunities, product showcases, and informative sessions.
The panel is set to gather specialists from diverse fields, including public health, policymaking, psychiatry, neuroscience, and the gaming sector. Together, they will analyze gambling-related issues from various viewpoints and discuss collaborative efforts towards player protection.
Kennedy will be joined by: Dr. Nathan Carroll, National Medical Director at InSite Health and member of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Digital Health, Innovation, and Technology; Dr. Eraka Bath, a psychiatry professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine; Toby Ewing, from Stanford School of Medicine and former director of the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission; and Paul Pellizzari, Vice President of Global Social Responsibility at Hard Rock International. The session will be moderated by Kevin Winters, CEO of Almond Digital Health.
Emphasis on Gambling-Related Issues
This session will analyze data revealing that almost half of U.S. adults participated in gambling activities last year. Discussions will explore the impact increased access to betting has on younger demographics. Topics will include early intervention strategies, public awareness campaigns, research initiatives, and cooperative efforts to combat gambling-related damage.
Kennedy served 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, gaining recognition for his advocacy on mental health and addiction reform. He was a key proponent of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which was enacted in 2008 to ensure that mental health and addiction treatments are covered by insurers similarly to physical health services.
Post his congressional career, Kennedy has remained active in the realms of mental health, addiction, and public health policy. He founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health equity and systematic reform.
His contributions include co-founding initiatives such as Psych Hub and One Mind, authoring best-selling books on mental health and addiction, and advocating for awareness, early intervention, and cooperative solutions to behavioral health challenges.
Collaboration Initiative
This discussion is part of SBC’s collaboration with the Better Gambling Forum (BGF), a global initiative concentrated on evidence-based strategies for reducing gambling-related harm. Through their partnership, the organizations aim to promote effective and scalable player protection initiatives across North America and beyond.
“Effective player protection requires a multifaceted approach,” highlighted Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC. “Uniting voices from public health, policymaking, healthcare, and the gaming sector is the collaborative effort needed to advance this critical discussion. Patrick Kennedy’s involvement significantly enhances this conversation.”
The panel is a key component of SBC Summit Americas’ safer gambling initiative, which also features a dedicated Player Protection Symposium designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among experts throughout the Americas.
Confirmed speakers for the symposium include: Tom Sage, Executive Vice President of the Sports Betting Regulators Association; Christopher Hebert, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board; Michael Soll, President of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG); Phil Sherwood, Senior Director of Responsible Gaming at PrizePicks; and Dr. Jennifer Shatley, Executive Director of the Responsible Online Gaming Association.
Industry professionals looking for the latest updates on responsible gambling efforts can follow SBC’s Player Protection Hub, which serves as a central resource for educational materials, expert insights, and global industry news pertaining to player protection advancements.
For those interested in attending SBC Summit Americas 2026, registration is open using promo code YOGOPARTNERVIP via this link.