Key points:
- The William Hill-sponsored SPFL gambling education programme reached nearly 800 players and 160 staff across 37 clubs
- Player awareness of gambling vulnerability and professional integrity issues increased significantly, with 93% reporting good or excellent knowledge levels post-session
A new evaluation of the Scottish Professional Football League’s (SPFL) gambling harm prevention programme has revealed that 96% of participating players now feel confident about where to seek help for gambling-related concerns.
The findings follow the first full season of educational sessions delivered in partnership with William Hill and Epic Global Solutions.
Launched during William Hill’s debut year as title sponsor of the SPFL, the programme reached nearly 800 players and 160 staff across 37 clubs.
Led by Epic Global Solutions, the sessions were conducted by former professional footballers Marc Williams and Dominic Matteo, both of whom have personal experiences with gambling-related harm.
Key outcomes included a notable rise in players’ awareness of gambling risks within professional sport. After the sessions, 93% of respondents said they had a good or excellent understanding of athletes' vulnerability to gambling harms – up from 70% prior.
Similarly, awareness around gambling and professional integrity also rose from 74% to 93%.
SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster praised the programme’s reach and effectiveness, stating: “These figures show the real impact that Epic’s gambling harm awareness programme has had with SPFL clubs and its players, which is great to see.
“We’ve had extremely positive feedback from our members on how informative the sessions have been, and it’s excellent it has reached so many players and staff members across our game in its first season."
Good to know: The initiative will continue into the 2025/26 season, with an expanded focus on SPFL academies, women’s squads and community outreach, including club supporter groups
Per Widerstrom, CEO of William Hill’s parent company Evoke, added: “The education programme is a fundamental element of our sponsorship. It’s really important that we balance the passion of players and fans with gambling responsibly, and I am delighted to see such good progress made during our first year of sponsorship.
“We now look forward to next season and extending the programme to academies, women’s squads and supporters."
