Key points:
- More than 16 SPFL clubs have hosted gambling harm prevention sessions, with further events planned
- Player awareness of gambling risks rose by 22% following the programme
- The initiative includes personal stories from ex-footballers affected by problem gambling
A gambling harm prevention programme supported by William Hill’s title sponsorship of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has been introduced across all league divisions during Safer Gambling Week 2024.
The campaign, developed in partnership with Epic Global Solutions, delivers educational talks to players, staff and supporters, highlighting the risks of gambling harm and providing tools to make informed choices.
Former professional footballers Dominic Matteo and Marc Williams have been sharing personal stories of how gambling negatively impacted their careers and lives, aiming to create relatable and impactful discussions with players and staff.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL Group Chief Executive, said: “It’s great to see such a strong start to the campaign. The feedback has been positive and while the size of the problem remains relatively small in Scottish football, we can’t afford to be complacent and are looking forward to a fuller roll-out of the programme as the season progresses.”
A survey of 226 first-team players from participating clubs revealed a significant increase in awareness. Before the sessions, 72% of respondents understood the risks professional athletes face concerning gambling. This figure rose to 94% post-session.
Good to know: Sessions have been conducted at 16 SPFL clubs so far, including teams from the Premiership and lower divisions
Additionally, 96% of players reported feeling confident about seeking support for gambling issues if needed and 91% expressed readiness to discuss these topics with their peers.
Per Widerström, Evoke CEO, added: “This initiative, which has already made great progress, will help ensure that local fans, players and colleagues of football clubs know how to identify signs of problem gambling and minimise the risks of gambling-related harm.”
This initiative complements wider responsible gambling efforts across the industry, including Casino Guru and Mindway AI’s updated Gamalyze self-assessment tool launched earlier this month for Safer Gambling Week.
