Entain and Epic Risk Management have entered into a three-year partnership with Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) to provide members with access to gambling harm education and awareness programs.
Epic Risk Management and Entain Foundation US will provide customised gambling harm education and awareness programs, and advisory resources across a three-year program. The 29 teams that are a part of the MLSPA will have access to the programs.
The program will see Epic deliver gambling harm prevention education and awareness workshops, and provide prevention resources, advisory resources and content, which will be made available to the entire MLSPA membership.
Gambling within the sport has been a hot topic recently, with England footballer Ivan Toney being banned for eight months after admitting to breaching gambling rules. Toney later confessed to being a gambling addict, while the NFL has seen similar incidents recently.
Ben McGregor, Director of Sports Partnerships at Epic Risk Management, said: “We are looking forward to working with the MLSPA and its membership in delivering this national program to provide crucial education and advice regarding the ever-growing relationship between wagering and professional sports in the US.
“The players, staff and MLS in general have a global reach and will therefore be subject to considerable sports wagering attention around the world.
"This program is intended to provide MLSPA members with an informed understanding to minimise the risk of sporting integrity issues that can arise from gambling activities, as well as utilise our considerable lived experience from facilitators who have elite sports backgrounds, who can also advise on the effects that gambling-related harm can have on an individual’s performance and welfare.”
