Theme

Reimagining gambling harm: Innovation, equity and global connections

Our 2026 theme, "Reimagining gambling harm: Innovation, equity and global connections," invites attendees to look beyond established models and share new ways of thinking. Gambling harm is a complex global challenge, and this convention provides a vital platform for the international community to explore how innovation, a commitment to equity, and strong global partnerships can create meaningful change. We are pleased to host this conversation in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are guided by the following whakataukī (Māori proverb):

“E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, ēngari he toa takitini”

“Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many”

This whakataukī reminds us that our strength lies in unity. Meaningful change comes from collaboration and weaving together diverse perspectives, including international research, policy, and the essential insights from lived experience.

IGC 2026 provides a key opportunity for this collective work. It is a platform for attendees to share their treatment, research, public health, and policy insights. We aim to facilitate an environment where global, ethnic, and individual perspectives on harm, wellbeing, and recovery can foster robust discussion.

The conference focus areas include:

Navigating the Evolving Global Landscape: Charting the changing face of gambling, characterised by new technologies and the blurred lines between gaming and gambling that affect markets worldwide.

Driving Innovation in Public Health: Exploring innovative methodologies for use in public health from across the globe, with a keen focus on technological advancements in prevention, identification, and support.

Deepening Our Commitment to Equity: Acquiring a deep understanding of the inequities experienced by diverse population groups internationally and exploring equitable, culturally responsive solutions.

Strengthening Global Connections: Fostering new partnerships and strengthening collaboration between researchers, regulators, service providers, and those with lived experience.

Reimagining Pathways to Wellbeing: Examining gambling-related behaviours and harms, while acknowledging the adaptive strategies and distinct journeys of individuals, whānau (families), and communities in their recovery.

This is a deliberately broad and inclusive theme. It resonates with a worldwide push to address health inequities and barriers to services.

This theme invites our international and national colleagues to draw on knowledge from other addiction fields and to centre the direct lived experiences of people affected by harm. Guided by our whakataukī, we will come together as a community to share, challenge, and innovate.