In this episode of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, Martin is joined by Dr Mary Donohue, CEO of the Digital Wellness Center, for a powerful conversation on how neuroscience, technology, and behavioural science can reshape the future of responsible gambling.

Dr Donohue shares the personal story behind founding the Digital Wellness Center after surviving a life-threatening illness caused by stress, and explains how that experience led her to develop digital tools that can reduce stress in under three minutes. The discussion explores how mood management affects player decision-making, why proactive mental health support is critical in gambling environments, and how technology — including AI and behavioural data — can help prevent harm before it happens.

The conversation also covers Dr Donohue’s work with casinos, healthcare providers, and major platforms, her educational partnership with TikTok, and why responsible gambling needs to be treated as a core business strategy rather than a PR exercise.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why stress and mood have a direct impact on gambling behaviour
How the Digital Wellness Center uses neuroscience to reduce stress in minutes
What proactive responsible gambling actually looks like in practice
Why AI and “human touch” must work together in player protection
How technology could predict and prevent harmful gambling behaviour
Why responsible gambling must evolve beyond compliance and PR

#ResponsibleGambling #iGaming #MentalHealth #AI #GamblingIndustry #PlayerProtection #Wellbeing

Marlene Warner, CEO of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, joins the show to discuss her career path, responsible gaming (RG) advocacy, and crucial industry issues.

Warner holds a BA in sociology and an MA in women's studies/communications, grounding her approach in studying people, using data, and advocating for underserved populations.

In a timely update, she reveals she is currently pulling papers to run for City Councillor in her ward, following previous roles as student senate president.

Key Discussion Highlights:

• Career Recognition
• Council Name Change
• GameSense
• National Helpline Barrier
• RG in America
• Industry Standards

Warner concludes by stressing that putting the right safeguards in place does not hurt business, and encourages everyone to promote the helpline and eliminate barriers

Welcome to an improvised episode of the Safe Bet Show, where host Martin Lycka welcomes SBC Leaders Magazine Editor, Steve Hoare.

The discussion centres on the SBC Player Protection Hub, which Steve is also Editor of. The Hub is positioned as a, "one-stop shop" for responsible gaming resources, offering news feeds from across the SBC universe and a research hub dedicated to collecting RG studies. Crucially, the site is members-only, aiming to be a necessary "safe space" where people can talk about player protection issues and share personal stories without fear of exposure.

Martin and Steve discuss the immense power of "lived experience" stories. They highlight how these human and humane narratives, such as a story about a girl who used gambling to "turn off the noise", or the painful recollection of a Seahawks fan who lost his family’s money betting on the Super Bowl, provide critical perspective for the industry.

The conversation then shifts to Martin’s career, tracing his time at BetFair starting in 2009. This period coincided with the genesis of regulated markets in Europe (Italy, France, Spain). They analyse the failure of the dream of European harmonisation and contrast it with the rise of the US state-by-state regulation, which some prominent lobbyists initially dismissed as "madness".

Martin also shares his experience living through major industry mergers, including the BetFair/Paddy Power union (Flutter) and GVC/Ladbrooks Coral (Entain).

In this episode of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, Martin sits down with Leonardo Baptista, CEO of Pay4Fun, to explore the evolution of Brazil’s gaming and payments industry. Leonard shares his journey from his early days at Bat Motion in 2004 to founding Pay4Fun in 2017.

The discussion covers Pay4Fun’s unique positioning in the market, thanks to its regulatory expertise, advanced API solutions, and deep understanding of local needs, as well as the complex path toward a regulated gambling framework in Brazil.

The conversation also dives into how Pay4Fun is helping to combat illegal gambling through KYC, transaction monitoring, and close collaboration with regulators.

Leonardo highlights the importance of responsible gaming, detailing initiatives like deposit limits and financial monitoring, alongside Pay4Fun’s charity work.

In the latest episode of the Safe Bet Show, Martin Lycka is joined by Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), who returns to the show after four years to share invaluable insights into the ever-evolving world of gambling and gaming.

Grainne discusses how the UK gambling industry has become "bigger, better, more responsible, and more responsive," representing over 90% of the regulated market—including local betting shops, iconic land-based casinos, online bingo operators, and major global brands.

Learn about Grainne's personal connection to gambling through family traditions like the Grand National sweepstakes and her enjoyment of horse racing, political betting, blackjack, and online roulette—showcasing the diversity of the BGC’s membership and services.

In addition, Grainne reveals the BGC's ongoing mission to modernise UK casinos, enforce the Gambling Act Review White Paper reforms, and address challenges like the new tax consultation from the UK Treasury that could unintentionally drive players to the dangerous black market.

With £4bn already staked on unregulated sites by 1.5 million Brits, the BGC’s fight against this threat includes launching global roundtables and advocating for smart, "frictionless" affordability checks that protect consumers without pushing them offshore.

🎙️ In this episode of Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Shatley, Executive Director of Roga (Responsible Online Gaming Association), for a conversation on the future of responsible gaming. With a unique academic background—especially her communications degree rooted in research and statistics—Dr. Shatley brings a data-driven mindset to her work. She reflects on her tenure at Caesars, where she led initiatives like Responsible Gaming training and the creation of the Responsible Gaming Ambassador role.

🌍 Dr. Shatley also shares global insights from her consulting work, particularly in Japan, emphasising the need for culturally sensitive and targeted responsible gaming programs. She explains why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work, highlighting the importance of tailoring messaging to resonate with different demographics and cultural values. Throughout the discussion, she underscores the central role of research—emphasising the need for actionable insights that translate into real-world, adaptable policy solutions.

🧠 As the head of Roga—formed by eight major US gaming operators representing 90% of the market—Dr. Shatley outlines the organisation’s five-pillar mission: actionable research, best practices, education (including the “Know Your Play” campaign), a national data clearinghouse, and a certification program to set industry standards. Looking ahead, she shares Roga’s vision to integrate responsible gaming across the entire player journey, shift the narrative from problem gambling to player well-being, and use shared data to drive personalisation and prevention.

In the latest episode of Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show, Martin chats with Monica Shafaq, CEO of Gordon Moody, delving into her extensive charity sector background spanning housing and mental health.

Monica shares her journey, including her 14-year tenure as CEO of Kaleidoscope Plus Group, a mental health support organisation.

A crucial part of the conversation explores the significant interplay between mental health and problem gambling, with Monica highlighting that over 70% of Gordon Moody's clients have a diagnosed mental health condition. As a mental health first aid instructor, she also shares key skills for providing initial support.

Beyond the charity sector, Monica discusses her allegiance to Wolverhampton Wanderers and her passionate involvement in football governance, driven by a desire to destigmatise mental health in sports and champion equality and diversity.

Monica also outlines exciting future plans for Gordon Moody, including increased social media presence, service diversification, and international expansion.

Join Martin Lycka on another episode of his Safe Bet Show as he welcomes Simon Vincze, Head of Sustainable and Safe Gambling at Casino Guru.

In this insightful conversation, Simon shares his experiences growing up in the post-Czechoslovak environment, reflecting on the unique dynamic between Czechs and Slovaks and his personal connection to both cultures.

He provides an in-depth look into Casino Guru's mission to offer reliable information about online casinos, explaining their rigorous process for establishing the safety index and their efforts to act as a "Wikipedia for online casinos".

Simon delves into the crucial topic of responsible gambling, sharing his thoughts on player education and the need for gambling companies to bring their players "out of the shadow". He also discusses his spearheaded project to develop universal recommendations for online self-exclusion practices.
Beyond his professional life, Simon reflects on how fatherhood influences his career and travel.