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Addiction 15: Gambling regulation – a complex world, with Brendan Bussmann

Season 2
February 3, 2026

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First up, we are really delighted (not to mention warm and tingly) to announce the podcast’s first-ever sponsor. We welcome the magnificent Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) as our headline act!

In this episode, hosts Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford engage with Brendan Bussman, a leading regulatory consultant, to explore the complexities of gambling regulation in the U.S. They discuss the differences in state laws, the role of regulators and operators, and the importance of responsible gaming practices. The conversation also touches on cultural influences, the impact of religion on gambling laws, and the evolution of responsible gaming in Las Vegas. The need for national gambling studies and the role of stakeholders in shaping regulations are also examined, along with a discussion on prediction markets and their regulation.

Things we talk about, but in a list:

  1. Regulatory structures vary significantly across U.S. states.
  2. Responsible gaming is often driven more by operators than regulators.
  3. Cultural and religious factors heavily influence gambling laws.
  4. Player protection measures are not uniformly prioritised in new regulations.
  5. The U.S. lacks a national gambling prevalence study, complicating harm assessment.
  6. States like Massachusetts are leading in research on gambling impacts.
  7. Operators have the ability to implement responsible gaming tools voluntarily.
  8. The gambling industry is seen as a personal responsibility issue in the U.S.
  9. Stakeholders can influence regulations through open comment periods.
  10. Prediction markets are gaining traction but face regulatory challenges.

Brendan Bussmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-bussmann-3456011/

Addiction: An Hour With Auer is a weekly podcast where hosts Dr Michael Auer – he of the title – and Jon Bruford talk about addiction in all its forms. Not just gambling addiction, they discuss all forms of addiction with experts, academics and researchers from around the world.

This episode is brought to you by Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services around the world.

GLI provides suppliers, operators, and regulators with expert guidance for navigating the future of gaming and ensuring gaming innovations meet regulatory standards with confidence in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Podcast homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

Media behemoth homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Other podcasts we do:

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/dessert-island-discs/

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