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96% of SPFL players know where to find support for gambling issues after EPIC and William Hill sessions
A survey of SPFL players that attended the competition’s new gambling harm prevention education programme has shown that 96% of players are now confident that they know where to seek support if they are worried about their gambling behaviour, thanks to the knowledge provided to them as part of William Hill’s first season as title sponsors.
With the intention of ensuring that players and staff across all four divisions understand the importance of safer gambling, the programme has reached nearly 800 players and a further 160 staff members, as 37 clubs hosted talks during the 2024/25 season from two former professional footballers with their own past issues of gambling-related harm to share.
The two ex-pros – former Wales U21 and Wrexham striker Marc Williams and Scotland-capped former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo – were seconded to clubs by EPIC Global Solutions; leaders in gambling harm prevention whose client base includes all 72 EFL clubs, MLB teams and the vast NCAA college sports network.
As a result of the sessions, alongside virtually every player now knowing where to seek support if they are worried about their gambling behaviour, 93% confirmed they now have a good or excellent level of awareness of professional athletes’ vulnerability to harmful gambling – an increase from 70% having that level of knowledge before the session.
The same post-session figure – 93% – also believed they had a good or excellent level of awareness around gambling and professional integrity, which rose from 74% before the session.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, said: “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.
“We’re proud to continue to support this partnership alongside William Hill and look forward to seeing it develop further in the seasons ahead.”
Among the players to take part in the series of talks was Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie, who made his Scotland debut in Monday’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein. Speaking after hearing how Marc Williams’ professional career was affected by issues with problem gambling, he admitted:
“In this industry, obviously you have a lot of free time; you’re in hotels overnight or you’re away on international duty and you’re left to your own devices, doing whatever on your phone. It’s easy to get roped into that, especially in this environment where there’s a lot of gambling, like cards on the buses and all that sort of stuff, so it’s easily done.
“I think seeing what he went through just reassures that that’s not the path you want to go down.”
The education programme will continue for a second season in 2025/26, with a focus on extending the audience to include SPFL clubs’ academies and women’s squads, as well as engaging with community trusts and supporter groups to ensure the message is also accessible to fans of all 42 clubs.
Per Widerstrom, CEO of evoke, the parent group of William Hill, said: “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”
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Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion
Sports & Wellbeing Analytics (“SWA”), a fast-scaling innovator in AI-powered sports data and betting models, today announced the appointment of Gavin Hamilton as Chairman of the Board.
Hamilton is a widely respected leader in the gambling and gaming industry, known for scaling high-growth companies and driving innovation in regulated markets. His previous roles include CEO of Red Tiger Gaming – where he led the company through explosive global growth and its acquisition by Netent AB – as well as senior leadership positions at NetEnt AB, Flutter, and Evolution.
Speaking about his appointment, Gavin Hamilton said “SWA is sitting on transformative IP that could reshape how the industry thinks about live betting, integrity, and athlete data,” said Gavin Hamilton. “The team has built something genuinely unique at the intersection of sport and real-time analytics, and I’m excited to help steer the next phase of global expansion.”
Caspar Hobbs, CEO of SWA, welcomed the appointment: “Gavin’s arrival is a major endorsement of our strategy and ambition. He brings not just deep sector knowledge, but also the credibility and leadership needed to help SWA scale in key markets and take advantage of the incredible demand for smarter, faster, and fairer sports data.”
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ExpressVPN Announces New Partnership with Riot Games
ExpressVPN, the global leader in consumer privacy and security, has announced a new partnership with video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organiser, Riot Games.
As a Summer Split Partner, ExpressVPN will sponsor the championship series taking place from August – September, culminating in this year’s League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) taking place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid. From September 26 to 28, the last standing and best teams from the Summer Split will battle in front of over 10,000 in-person spectators for the Summer Split Champion title and a chance to qualify for the 2025 World Championships – one of the most iconic esports competitions in the world.
Riot Games players will have access to a free 14-day trial of ExpressVPN, empowering gamers with advanced digital privacy and security. League of Legends players will also unlock Hextech Chests when they subscribe to ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN works with all major gaming consoles, enabling gamers to protect their digital privacy and giving them access to a global network of server locations. ExpressVPN’s custom-built Lightway protocol is built with speed and performance in mind—ensuring protection against DDoS attacks and ISP throttling while allowing gamers to enjoy a fast and secure connection that helps them stay competitive.
Riot Games is one of the world’s leading video game developers and publishers, with its flagship game, League of Legends. The company also organises major esports Championships such as the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and World Championship.
Zac Eller, GM of Global Partnerships & Business Development at ExpressVPN, said: “For today’s gamers, privacy and performance go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s protecting against DDoS attacks, reducing ping, or unlocking global content, we’re here to help players compete at their best. Riot Games has built a world-class esports ecosystem, and we’re proud to work with them to ensure gamers have the tools they need to stay safe and secure online while supporting the League of Legends community.”
Charlie Allen, EMEA Director of Commercial Partnerships & Biz Dev at Riot Games, said: We’re always looking to collaborate with partners who understand our community and what matters to them. ExpressVPN gets that League of Legends and the LEC aren’t just about gameplay and high stakes, they’re about trust, stability, and showing up in the right way. This partnership isn’t just a logo on a screen; it’s about adding that final layer to elevate the fan experience, connecting two worlds in a way that feels natural and earned – it directly supports our community by helping protect their internet connection and security. Whether you’re grinding ranked, co-streaming the LEC, or traveling to a live event like the Summer Finals in Madrid, digital security matters. It’s a collaboration built not just around shared audiences, but shared values.”
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IGT to Showcase Localised Linked Games and Gaming Systems Advancements at 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo
IGT is going to present an exciting, performance-focused showcase of games, cabinets, systems and FinTech solutions at the 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE 2025) which will take place at ICC Sydney from Aug. 12-14. With a market-attuned portfolio of more than 50 unique link and standalone game titles, IGT will reflect the Company’s focus on delivering innovative player experiences and creating value-add opportunities to gaming floors across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).
“As IGT enters a new era of growth and transformation, AGE 2025 is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our laser-focus on delivering an unrivaled solutions portfolio, and our unique position to serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for our customers across Australia and New Zealand. At AGE 2025, IGT will present a diverse range of standalone and linked progressive games with exciting new titles such as Hot Stuff Link and Bandit Link & Loot, as well as our IGT ADVANTAGE CLUB system with advancements to Service Window and other convenience-enhancing modules,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT SVP and COO, APAC.
“IGT’s line-up for AGE 2025 is the most exciting portfolio that we’ve presented in recent years. In addition to showcasing ten new game families, we will reveal our revamped jackpot strategy for the ANZ market, as well as IGT’s rejuvenated on-screen look and feel. Our development focus has been on delivering an elevated player experience through trending mechanics and enhanced art packages. For example, our Firework Link provides players with a Hold and Spin inside Hold and Spin experience, coupled with new innovative free-game mechanics; and MegaVault Link morphs the two most popular mechanics that the ANZ market has seen over the last 20 years – Chose Your Volatility and Hold and Spin,” said Matt Wright, IGT Product Director APAC.
Everi, an IGT brand, will highlight its portfolio of integrated FinTech solutions at AGE 2025 in a dedicated space alongside IGT’s exhibit. Everi’s trusted suite includes cash access, player wallets, AML compliance, loyalty and payments — each built to work together and designed to meet the demands of modern casino and venue operations.
These offerings integrate directly with IGT’s powerful systems, creating a unified financial and engagement platform. From cage to cabinet and kiosk to mobile, operators gain a consistent and configurable experience that reduces friction, enhances visibility and streamlines operations across land-based and digital environments.
Everi’s solutions also support responsible gaming by incorporating tools like spending limits, discreet messaging and data-informed alerts — helping operators promote sustainable play without disrupting the entertainment experience. By combining Everi’s FinTech innovation with IGT’s global infrastructure, operators can benefit from a flexible, modular foundation that delivers smarter data, stronger compliance and personalised engagement at every touchpoint.
Together, IGT and Everi are reimagining how payments, loyalty and compliance come together — helping operators move faster, serve smarter and lead the next era of connected gaming.
The post IGT to Showcase Localised Linked Games and Gaming Systems Advancements at 2025 Australasian Gaming Expo appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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