Jon Kelly Extends Responsible Gambling Council Tenure
Jon Kelly, who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Responsible Gambling Council Board since 1998, has signed on to remain with the council for a further three year tenure.
The RGC chair, Terry Finn said that the Board appreciates Kelly's commitment, skill and knowledge, which has significantly contributed to the Responsible Gambling Council's growth in the past 15 years.
"He is the ideal person to lead RGC through these times of significant change in the gambling and problem gambling sectors," said Finn. "He will be a driving force in the creation of RGC's new strategic plan, which is currently in development."
Kelly has been RGC Chairman since 1998
Kelly joined the Canadian Responsible Gambling Council when it was undergoing a major shift in its policies and mandate. Created as the Canadian Foundation on Compulsive Gambling in 1983 by Tibor Barsony, the non profit organization brought the issue of problem gambling to the public's attention.
Kelly noted that for a long time, there was no counseling available for people with problem gambling.
"The CFCG pushed hard to get that need recognized and put resources in place," he said. "As that happened, and a network of counseling services emerged in Ontario, RGC had the opportunity to shift its focus and resources to prevention."
The CFCG officially became the Responsible Gambling Council in 2001 and began focusing on the prevention of problem gambling.
Responsible Gambling Council Future Plans
Next year, the group celebrates its 30th anniversary in the Canadian gambling industry and is planning a number of events to mark the occasion.
The Responsible Gambling Council's strategic plan ends this year, and with it comes the opportunity to develop a new vision for its future.
Kelly noted that the Canadian landscape of gaming and gambling is constantly changing and the programs used by the group need to develop along with the sector.
"That means we must do the same," said the CEO. "The strategies we have used in the past need to be examined and tested. New forms of gambling like online, expanded sports betting and the 'gamblification' of social games demand new prevention approaches."
"Now is not the time to stop or rest on past successes," he said. "Quite the opposite. It is time to rethink the model and to discover new avenues to prevention."
