Casino Guru Academy launches suicide prevention course at ICE 2026

Casino Guru Academy has introduced a new Suicide Prevention Course during ICE Barcelona 2026. In doing so, the Academy brought one of the industry’s most sensitive challenges in into the spotlight.

The free training programme is designed specifically for customer-facing iGaming professionals. This is because it is they who may encounter self-harm threats in chat, email or other communications. More than 50 participants registered during the event. Casino Guru’s initiative is exemplary in demonstrating that suicide prevention must be part of modern player protection strategies.

A practical response to a complex issue

The course addresses suicide and self-harm threats as a real-world operational issue for online gambling operators. Strong player protection safeguards may already exist in many regulated markets, but training on suicide risk recognition is not always mandatory. This is particularly true in grey and unlicensed sectors.

"12.2 percent of participants reported that they had thought about or attempted taking their own life. Of those 12.2 percent, 5.2 percent reported that this was related to their gambling either a little or a lot." - Consequences from gambling, Gambling Survey for Great Britain, published 2/10/2025.

Authored by Christina Theophilos, M.Ed., an experienced Responsible Gaming specialist, the programme combines frontline industry knowledge with consumer protection principles. Theophilos was clear that gambling platforms themselves do not cause suicidality. However, uncontrolled play can intensify financial and emotional distress. It’s critical, therefore, for operators to be prepared to deal with these issues.

The training includes:

• How to recognise early warning signs in written communications.
• Understanding tone and phrasing.
• Responding before a crisis escalates.

It introduces the benefits of calm, structured engagement rather than reactive responses.

What the course teaches

The Suicide Prevention Course is structured around practical application. It covers the following main areas:

1. What iGaming professionals need to know about suicidality and gambling.
2. Spotting warning signs in chat and email.
3. How to ask questions about suicide.
4. Suicide risk handling.
5. Dealing with emergencies and escalating responses.
6. Legal responsibilities and procedures.

There is a short final test (15 minutes) to bring everything together at the end.

Industry responsibility beyond regulation

The course was launched in the Sustainable Gambling Zone at ICE Barcelona 2026 and shows how the industry is responding and adapting to mental health challenges concerning gambling. Šimon Vincze, Sustainable & Safer Gambling Head at Casino Guru, said suicide prevention should be an integral part of consumer protection, not a marginal topic.

Casino Guru Academy is offering this training free of charge. It aims to close the global gap in accessible suicide prevention education for gambling professionals.

This initiative recognises that effective suicide prevention in iGaming begins not with policy documents, but with informed, prepared individuals who know how to respond when it matters most. Customer-facing staff are often the first point of contact for players in distress.