Through the partnership, Epic is set to deliver its expertise in gambling harm minimisation to the horseracing industry for the first time.
Epic’s new project aims to raise awareness of, minimise and ultimately prevent gambling-related harm. The group will work as the charity’s Safer Gambling Education Partner to provide education to those working within the horseracing industry.
“Helping individuals struggling with addiction is a key part of the day-to-day work that we do here at Racing Welfare, as has been the case for many years,” said Racing Welfare Director of Welfare Simone Sear. “We know that gambling addiction often does not exist in isolation, and that it may be linked to other challenges such as substance abuse and mental ill-health.
“Education has always been a part of our strategy to help racing’s people thrive and to prevent cases of hardship escalating to a point of crisis. This partnership with Epic signals our commitment to proactive and preventative action in the face of gambling addiction, as well as continuing to develop our support services to help those in the grip of an addiction.”
The programme will be delivered by individuals with lived experience of problem gambling, with the parties aiming to raise awareness of the help that is available to those working within the industry, as well as sharing practical advice on effective management and control measures.
Epic Risk Management Director of Sports Partnerships Ben McGregor commented: “We’re delighted to announce this pioneering partnership with Racing Welfare, our first foray into the sport of horseracing and certainly not our last.
“Through meaningful, impactful gambling-harm prevention education delivered by our lived experience members of our team – those facilitators who have experienced gambling harm in their own lives – we are looking forward to partnering with Racing Welfare to engender a culture of gambling-free harm in a sport that is synonymous with the gambling industry.”
