Operators, suppliers, regulators and consultants gathered online ahead of Safer Gambling Week to discuss some of the most pressing issues in the realm of player protection. Here are three takeaways. Danish Gambling Authority Director Anders Dorph highlighted new laws in Denmark that made it a crime to target under-18s with gambling advertising and gave the…
Gambling exposure among young people in the UK is increasing, but the percentage of those experiencing problem gambling is “statistically stable” in comparison to the previous year.
This is the opinion of the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) Director of Research and Policy, Tim Miller, in response to the Young People and Gambling Report 2025, the annual study that examines the full scope of young people’s gambling exposure, including games that aren’t restricted to over-18s.
He added that the data supports the UKGC’s efforts to continue strengthening protections for young people against gambling harm, as operators in the UK market must have robust protections in place to prevent children from accessing age-restricted products.
The vast majority of gambling activities that young people spend money on are legal or not age-restricted, such as arcade gaming machines, as well as bets and games with friends and family.
Strengthening understanding
“Each year this report further strengthens understanding of the relationship between young people and gambling,” stated Miller.
“We have seen an increase in participation in gambling – 27% in 2024 compared to 30% in 2025. The research shows that it is not children being encouraged or allowed to gamble underage driving this increase – it is the increased participation in gambling that is either legal or does not require regulation, such as private betting between friends.
“Even with that increased participation, the percentage of those scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem gambling screen has not increased but has moved from 1.5% last year to 1.2% this year, which is classed as statistically stable.
“Where it relates to regulated forms of gambling, we use the data to continuously keep under review and, where needed, strengthen the suite of protections for young people that we require gambling companies to have in place.”
Produced by Ipsos, the research was conducted in schools with pupils completing an online self-completion survey. In total, 3,666 11 to 17-year-olds attending academies, maintained and independent schools in England, Scotland and Wales took part in this year’s survey.
Increased participation
The UKGC said that the key findings from the survey showed that over the last 12 months, 49% of 11 to 17-year-olds have experienced gambling, while 30% of 11 to 17-year-olds are spending their own money on gambling.
In addition, 1.2% of those surveyed are scoring four or more on the youth-adapted problem gambling screen (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition – Multiple Response Juvenile), down slightly from 1.5% in 2024.
Of those surveyed, the percentage of young people scoring a two or three on the screening and therefore experiencing ‘at-risk’ gambling was 2.2%, up slightly from 1.9% the previous year. 27% scored zero or one and therefore weren’t experiencing ‘problems’ with their gambling.
The survey also stated that:
Arcade gaming machines, such as penny pusher or claw grab machines, were played by 21%, 14% placed a bet for money between friends or family, while 5% played cards with friends or family for money.
23% spent their own money on regulated forms of gambling in the past 12 months, including playing arcade gaming machines. With arcade machines removed, this figure drops to 6%, which the UKGC says is stable compared to 2024.
78% who gambled with their own money in the last year did so because they find it ‘fun’.
Young people are more likely to see gambling-related advertisements weekly online, rather than offline, with 49% responding that they saw adverts through social media and 47% saying via apps. Of the people who saw content on social media, 31% said influencers had advertised gambling-related content.
Boys were more likely to see gambling-related advertisements than girls across platforms, including YouTube (53% boys, 31% girls) and at sports events (57% boys, 37% girls).
29% had seen family members they live with gamble. Of which, 7% said it caused arguments or tension at home, while 9% said it helped to pay for things at home.
The UKGC is also broadening its research into early gambling experiences and gateway products, exploring the gambling-like activities – such as loot boxes, social gaming, prize draws – that children, young people and young adults may first encounter and how these experiences could shape their future engagement with gambling.
The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner has issued a formal caution to Unibet in response to a £10m fine issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings.
Platinum Gaming Limited, which holds a dual licence for the UK and Gibraltar, received the original penalty from the UKGC in October, as well as a warning and it will be subject to a third-party audit to ensure that AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls are being implemented effectively.
Gibraltar’s regulator is issuing a formal caution to Unibet as the case highlights “fitness and propriety” concerns for the operator, in addition to impacting the “reputation of Gibraltar”.
However, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner will not be imposing a financial penalty on the operator for the following reasons:
Historical nature of the failings in 2023 – case completed by UKGC in October 2025, after 21 months from the date of the relevant site visit.
A significant financial penalty has already been imposed.
Systems and controls related to the Gibraltar regulatory regime have been improved and are now considered satisfactory, pending a third-party review.
The regulator said: “Licence holders which are dual licensed are reminded that they are expected to comply with the AML/CFT/CFP regime not only in Gibraltar but also in other relevant jurisdictions in which they operate.
“Any Gibraltar licence holder which is subject to a regulatory sanction in another jurisdiction for AML/CFT/CPF breaches can expect the circumstances of that case to be reviewed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and the possibility of a public statement being made as to findings.
“Further enforcement action on the part of the Gambling Commissioner cannot be ruled out where it is justified by the circumstances. The fact that a formal caution has been issued will be taken into consideration if other matters come to light in the future.”
iGaming Expert has reached out to FDJ United for comment on the formal caution issued to Unibet by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
UKGC penalty
In its report, the UKGC illustrated major faults in Unibet’s customer interaction systems, including failing to spot and act on clear harm markers.
Customers lost thousands of pounds in a few hours or days of registration, players breached loss limits repeatedly and consumers showed binge gambling patterns without appropriate intervention.
One customer exceeded their loss limit of £2,500 within 16 minutes of registering and another lost £5,000 within 24 hours.
AML failures were also highlighted, including gaps in risk assessment, which resulted in customers who previously had their accounts closed by the licensee before 2023 being able to open new accounts and gamble.
It was also deemed that there was a lack of clarity in the company’s AML policy around due diligence thresholds and customer reviews failing to include potential high-risk factors.
This is the second time Platinum Gaming has been subject to a fine by the UKGC for AML and social responsibility failures, as the operator received a £2.9m penalty by the commission in 2023.
AML and safer gambling ‘a top priority’
In response to the UKGC penalty, an FDJ United spokesperson told iGaming Expert last month that AML and safer gambling are “a top priority” to its senior leadership and that the independent review will show that necessary steps are being taken.
“Platinum Gaming Ltd, the operator of Unibet in the UK and an entity of FDJ UNITED (at the time under the management of Kindred Group), acknowledges the UKGC’s finding that legacy monitoring technology was not sufficiently effective at the time of the review (i.e. from January 2023 to May 2024),” said the spokesperson.
“As a result of the findings by the UKGC, Platinum Gaming has implemented new software solutions and risk management frameworks across anti-money laundering and safer gambling, providing a detailed knowledge of customer risk, allowing for near real-time automated alerts and customer interventions.”
The spokesperson added: “FDJ UNITED remains committed to the highest compliance standards and player protection policies. As part of this, the Group will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of and improve its processes and tools to meet these standards.
“Senior leadership have safer gambling and anti-money laundering as a top priority in operational discussions, as well as a priority in the Group’s strategic agenda. FDJ UNITED will continue to work closely with the UKGC on this matter and remain confident that the external review will show necessary steps have been taken.”
New research from GambleAware has shown that neurodivergent people may be more at risk of experiencing gambling harms as they use gambling as a coping mechanism.
As such, new resources are now available to improve gambling harm support for neurodivergent people, which utilises research, lived experience insights and expert guidance.
Six key principles have also been identified that gambling support and treatment for neurodivergent people should be based on.
Complex link between neurodivergence and gambling
Neurodivergence describes how people experience and process the world and is commonly associated with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. It affects communication, learning, sensory experiences and problem-solving. Around 15% of the UK population is estimated to be neurodivergent.
GambleAware noted that new research has shown neurodivergent people may gamble “to manage social isolation, as a coping mechanism, or because of increased impulsivity, hyperfocus, and a preference for rules, order and routine”.
The charity also said that neurodivergent people frequently come across obstacles when trying to access gambling support, such as being unaware that support is available, as well as stigma and fear of judgement when looking for help.
With that, six key principles have been outlined that gambling support and treatment for neurodivergent people should be based upon to provide the best possible service:
Understanding and adapting to the diversity of communication needs that neurodivergent people have.
Ensuring clarity and simplicity in communications with neurodivergent people.
Providing support in ways that promote the autonomy and independence of clients with neurodivergence.
Providing support in an environment that considers the sensory needs of people with neurodivergence, such as reducing the risks of overstimulation.
Promoting the use of self-directed approaches, such as self-help tools and informal support, such as peer networks.
Making sure staff are trained in neurodiversity awareness and different communication methods.
“The new report highlights the complex link between neurodivergence and gambling,” commented Anna Hargrave, CEO of GambleAware.
“Characteristics of neurodivergence like impulsivity, hyperfocus, social difficulties, and a need for stimulation drive gambling behaviour and increase harms, while stigma, shame, and lack of tailored support further isolate neurodivergent people and make it harder for them to seek help.”
Tailored neurodivergent support
In response, new resources have been developed by IFF Research and Ara Recovery for All, based on GambleAware-funded research that was produced in partnership with University of Bristol academics.
The research aimed to see if neurodivergent people face an increased risk of experiencing gambling harms, identify the key drivers for gambling harms among neurodivergent people, analyse formal and informal gambling support barriers, as well as establish support, treatment, communication and engagement best practices and principles.
Commissioned by the charity, the new resources aim to help therapists and practitioners with tailored gambling harm support for neurodivergent people, including training materials, toolkits, and case studies, each designed to build confidence, reduce barriers and promote inclusive, effective support.
Hargrave added: “The resources we have produced are designed to support therapists and practitioners working with clients who experience both gambling harms and neurodivergence.
“They address a critical evidence gap in understanding how gambling harms affect neurodivergent people and how treatment can be tailored most effectively to ensure it is as effective as possible.”
Online slots limits implemented in the UK iGaming market earlier this year are having minimal impact on underlying financial figures and engagement for the vertical.
Data released by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has shown online slots gross gambling yield for the market’s second quarter of 2025 (July to September) to be £746.5m, up 9% year-over-year (Q2 2024: £686.1m).
The number of spins also rose by 4% YoY to 24.4 billion (Q2 2024: 23.5 billion), while the average monthly active accounts fell by 0.4% to 4.4 million per month (Q2 2024: 4.4 million).
Despite it being the second quarter in which the maximum stake limit for online slots had been implemented – £5 limit for adults from 9 April, £2 limit for 18 to 24 year olds from 21 May – GGY and the number of spins figures continued on an upward trajectory, recording new highs.
The number of spins per session has fallen to 130 (Q2 2024: 141), while GGY per session has declined to £3.96 (Q2 2024: £4.11), but the total number of sessions has increased by 13% to 188 million (166 million).
Online slots sessions lasting over an hour have dropped by 15% YoY as well to 8.6 million (Q2 2024: 10.1 million), with the average session lasting 16 minutes (Q2 2024: 17 minutes) and approximately 5% of all sessions exceeding one hour (Q2 2024: 6%).
Overall, this data could be interpreted to say that online slots limits have little to no impact on GGY and the number of spins for operators as more people are playing, but ultimately, players are spending less time and money playing online slots.
However, the UKGC did note that several operators “refined their session length methodology during the previous year, which will impact year-on-year comparisons on the number of sessions, sessions over one hour and average session length metrics”.
Across other verticals in Q2, the commission stated that:
Online total GGY was £1.42bn, up 8% YoY. The overall number of total bets and spins increased 3% YoY, to 26.1 billion. The average monthly active accounts decreased 7% to 12 million.
Real event betting GGY increased by 12% YoY to £508m. The number of bets decreased 3%. The average monthly active accounts decreased by 14%.
Betting premises GGY decreased by 5% to £508m. The number of total bets and spins decreased by 2% to 3.1 billion.
Damián Martínez: SBC Noticias
President Claudia Sheinbaum has finally confronted the glaring liabilities of Mexico’s gambling laws. Yet her actions appear driven more by growing scandals than by a genuine effort to replace an 80-year-old legal charter, reports Damian Martinez of SBC Noticias.
Confronted by national media in the glare of a widening scandal, Claudia Sheinbaum has stated that Mexico’s gambling laws must be modernised to combat criminal activities that have exposed and benefitted from current liabilities.
On Wednesday, the President of Mexico held a press conference in which she acknowledged the flaws of a gambling regime governed by the Federal Law of Games and Lotteries of 1947.
“The regulations for online casinos must be updated, because when the law was created, this way of betting didn’t exist,” Sheinbaum said. “As a result, it must now be regulated, because otherwise it opens the door to money laundering.”
Her remarks followed revelations that 13 casinos are under federal investigation for allegedly facilitating multimillion-peso cash movements and international currency transfers aligned with recognised money-laundering typologies.
At a subsequent briefing, Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, revealed that both physical and virtual casinos had, exposed “patterns of risk, fiscal irregularities, unusual operations and transnational financial connections that compromise the integrity of the financial system.”
The joint investigation carried out by the Financial Intelligence Unit, Federal Fiscal Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office has led to the temporary suspension of multiple venues, the blocking of online gambling sites, and the freezing of accounts linked to suspect operations.
Federal police described intricate schemes in which online casinos used identity theft and prepaid cards to move money abroad before returning it to Mexico as “legitimate” business income.
A relic of prohibition
The scandal draws renewed attention on the structural weaknesses of the 1947 law, a relic that views that gambling should be tolerated by Mexican authorities rather than legitimately governed.
More than a decade in power, the MORENA government continues its transition from the administration of Manuel López Obrador to Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency.
Yet a sidelined gambling sector and police authorities are mounting pressure to repeal and replace the legislation, a reform long stalled in committee amid concerns over corruption, tax evasion and moral opposition from religious and conservative groups.
Last month, Congress approved Sheinbaum’s 2026 national budget, which introduces sweeping increases in IEPS (Special Tax on Production and Services)—the so-called sin taxes. The measure doubles levies on gambling, sugary drinks, violent video games and tobacco, with the government arguing it will strengthen public finances and discourage harmful consumption.
Industry demands 2026 guarantees
Mexico’s regulated gambling industry is worth an estimated $10 billion, modest beside the more liberal markets of Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. Yet the sector remains fragmented, divided between state-level permits and administrative licences issued by the Interior Ministry (SEGOB) and lacking a coherent national framework for online play.
Industry groups and trade associations have urged the government to begin legislative modernisation in 2026, insisting that the sector underpins tens of thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to hospitality, tourism and entertainment—pillars of the economy that Mexico hopes to showcase as it co-hosts the FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada.
The Mexican Association of Gaming Suppliers (AIEJA) has long urged the government to modernise the country’s gambling laws. In previous campaigns, the trade body presented detailed proposals to transform gambling into an economically positive sector that could stimulate hospitality, leisure and tourism.
AIEJA argued that properly regulated gaming could enhance the appeal of Mexico’s resort destinations and generate substantial tax revenue. The vision was not to rival Las Vegas, but to harness the industry’s potential as part of a broader economic ecosystem. Successive administrations, however, rejected these proposals, with MORENA maintaining that the risks of liberalisation outweighed the fiscal rewards.
Failure will cost MORENA
The political question now is whether MORENA can deliver. Sheinbaum’s government must strike a delicate balance: tightening controls against illicit finance while legitimising an industry long treated as marginal. Success will require more than legislative tinkering; it demands institutional rebuilding—aligning fiscal, security and tourism policies around a sector newly recognised as economically vital.
If the administration succeeds, Mexico could emerge from 2026 with a modern, transparent gambling framework fit for the digital age. If it fails, it will greet the World Cup as a co-host still struggling to keep the game fair—off the pitch as much as on it.
Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has initiated an investigation into young adult’s attitudes towards sports betting.
The project will focus on people within the Parkstad region, and will be conducted in collaboration with local football club Roda JC Kerkrade of the Eerste Divisie (Dutch 2nd division).
Results will help the regulator devise a stronger strategy around raising the awareness of sports betting risks among people aged 18-24.
According to the KSA, Roda JC was picked as a strategic partner for the initiative thanks to being “the only club in the Netherlands that has deliberately turned down a sports betting sponsorship” – making it a “logical” choice for the regulator in its venture to tackle betting-related harm head-on.
Jordens Peters, Roda JC Managing Director, said: “With this awareness campaign, we want to contribute to the de-normalization of sports betting. There seems to be almost social pressure to participate, because the subject is discussed everywhere. That is what we want to draw attention to.
“Cooperation with the Gaming Authority is a logical step in this regard. The research offers valuable insights to open the conversation and to develop activities that really make a difference, in line with our role as a socially engaged club.”
The research itself will focus on three key areas – investigate what percentage of young adults in Parkstad engage with sports betting, the frequency of betting and amount of money spent, as well as their own views on the sports betting sector.
Surveys will run in November and December, with the final results expected to be delivered in early 2026 and serve as a basis for follow-up collaborations between the KSA and Roda JC.
Last year, the Kamer received a set of recommendations on gambling policy aimed at safeguarding public health. The advice urged lawmakers to increase funding for research into the psychology of gamblers under 24, particularly among young men.This age group is considered the most vulnerable to gambling-related harm, and its needs must be factored into the forthcoming overhaul of the KOA market.
As previously noted, the report will help the regulator develop educational programmes aimed at raising awareness of young adults about the risks of sports betting.
Michel Groothuizen, Board of Directors Chairman at the KSA, added: “With this research, we get a clear picture of how young adults experience sports betting – not only what they think, but also what they do.
“This knowledge is crucial for effective measures. Roda JC is a strong and credible partner in Parkstad, with a prospect of national upscaling.”
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has stated that self-exclusion leads to improvement in quality of life, but it remains to be seen whether the figures carry the needed weight for a wider impact.
Results were showcased in an ACMA-commissioned report conducted by market research firm ORIMA between May and June, from a pool of 381 participants. Given that 12,876 participants were invited, the final sample size represented a 3% response rate.
Responses were taken from users who evaluated their experience with Australia’s national self-exclusion register BetStop. Results showed that four in five people (77%) who self-excluded themselves from online and phone wagering for a period of time witnessed an improvement in their overall quality of life.
A total of 79% of those 381 said they’ve experienced improved mental health, while 69% of the whole pool reported better relationships with friends, family, and partners.
What’s more, 81% of all surveyed said they’ve completely stopped betting on sports or racing events, while 15% reported a decrease in their betting activity after self-exclusion.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, said: “We know online gambling causes a great deal of harm for too many in our communities. It is wonderful to see that the national self-exclusion register is having a positive impact. The stories shared with us are both moving and compelling.
“We want to make sure everyone who uses phone or internet gambling in Australia is aware of their options for self-exclusion. It only takes five minutes to register, and this could change your life.”
BetStop has been operated by Dataworks Group on behalf of the ACMA since the register’s launch in August 2023. Under Australian law, the register became the subject of a statutory review after 12 months of operations, which is still ongoing.
The ACMA believes that the results will help inform the review in question, but again – whilst self-exclusion is in fact proven to help those suffering from problem gambling, it remains to be seen whether the report itself will have a significant impact on the review given its small sample size.
Tie-in with wider Australian reforms
There is currently another ongoing debate around gambling on the highest political level, quite fierce at that. It revolves around the implementation of the Murphy report – a series of recommendations laid out by the late Peta Murphy in a multi-party parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm.
Whilst the BetStop statutory review is a separate matter, it is entirely possible that the actions of current Australian PM Anthony Albanese’s cabinet in regards to the Murphy report will also reverberate over to the self-exclusion registry.
As there’s currently no single national gambling regulator in Australia – gambling matters are usually handled either by the ACMA for media complaints/violations and AUSTRAC for anti-money laundering obligations, the Murphy report supported the creation of a national body to end the fragmented governance of Australian gambling, spread across six territorial states.
Within its 31 recommendations, the report suggested the creation of a single national regulator that would supervise all gambling-related licensing, advertising, data collection, penalty enforcement and harm prevention initiatives such as BetStop.
Research, treatment and education funding has also been touched upon in the report, with Murphy suggesting a levy for online wagering service providers that would secure a constant finance stream for gambling harm infrastructure – potentially supporting BetStop’s operations as well.
Albanese himself has recently found himself under significant pressure by the opposition, which has accused him of delaying the report’s implementation in the interest of the gambling sector.
With the Curacao gambling sector only just falling into his remit, the country’s Minister of Justice, Shalten Hato, is already making significant updates to the LoK regime in the country.
Hato has taken major steps to fix the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which had been criticised as having potentially ‘industry-centric bias to the management of complaints, baked into the system’.
During a previous analysis, iGaming Expert had identified that there were potential shortcomings in the ADR resolution policy, however, Hato’s latest reforms have blocked the potential “territorial ringfencing of ADR approval”.
The latest changes from Hato all but eradicate these fears, and close potential loopholes in the ADR process. Hato has banned ADR providers from having any affiliate or B2B involvement with operators.
Additionally, ADR officials are also prohibited from offering any B2B services to Curacao operators, with independent lawyers being required for the process. In order to fully ensure the process is neutral and bias does not plague the system, conflicts of interests are banned, and the CGA has the ability to remove bodies at any time.
One of the key fears was the necessity for the ADR lawyer to have a background in Curacao, a territory that is so ingrained in the gambling sector, leading to trepidation that links to the industry would be unavoidable, whichever lawyer was selected.
Nonetheless, the updated text from Hato underlines that official ADR entities solely need to meet the CGA certification criteria, with nothing in the policy now leading to them having local incorporation or Curacao residence.
Furthermore, so long as they are willing to undergo CGA due diligence, the process is now seemingly expanded to international lawyers, in a significant shift for the framework’s ADR policy.
Also of importance is the 90-day window that has now been implemented to ensure ADR cases are dealt with in a timely manner. This marks a milestone in how Curacao deals with ADR cases, with a timeline not having previously been established.
Hato has clearly elevated the focus on consumer protection as Curacao enters a new era of gaming regulation with the implementation of the LoK.
Significant for both parties is the finality of ADR resolution: once an ADR process concludes, the dispute cannot be transferred to another ADR provider. This adds procedural certainty and prevents “ADR shopping”.
However, ADR rulings are only binding on operators, not on players. This may create a situation where operators must accept every ADR outcome, however, players remain free to reject an unfavourable ruling and pursue the matter through other legal or regulatory avenues.
As a result, operators may be cautious, recognising that a determined player can effectively “walk away” from an ADR outcome and escalate through courts or alternative frameworks, even though Curaçao prohibits re-opening ADR with a second provider.
The initial steps from Hato will only serve to increase his embracing by many in the industry, after the CGA’s supervision was switched from the Finance to the Justice department following controversy surrounding Curacao’s Finance Minister, Javier Silvania, who has since resigned.
One of the key allegations levelled against Silvania related to the process of the issuing of “provisional” online gambling licences, with allegations that several had been granted prior to the Lok being enacted, which led to questioning of their legitimacy.
Even amid the political tensions, the CGA issued assurances that the process to appoint new members of the board is underway, and the implementation of the Lok remains on course and uninterrupted.
The CGA’s Aideen Shortt stated: “Supervision and governance within the CGA continue uninterrupted. The Authority remains fully functional and independent, continuing to implement and enforce Curaçao’s new regulatory framework under the LOK.
“Despite sensationalist headlines and fake-news articles, there is no delay or deviation in the rollout of the LOK, and no disruption to the CGA’s licensing or compliance programmes.”
Hato is a much less polarising figure and has seemingly sought to take a tougher approach to money laundering in the country, publicly emphasising that there has been an increase in prosecutions for the crime.
During a recent Parliamentary meeting, he outlined statistics that revealed that 26 individuals had been prosecuted for money laundering. Furthermore, he also detailed that money laundering cases linked to drug trafficking had risen last year – as he sought to showcase a tougher stance against illicit money.
EPIC Global Solutionsproclaims 2025 as its most expansive year achieving milestone of its harm prevention programme, beyond what its founders envisioned in 2013.
Expanding its harm prevention practice beyond UK-shores, EPIC Global is now active in 30 jurisdictions, helping the safer gambling policy stakeholders in mature and emerging markets.
Its international expansion phase is underscored by EPIC Global forming 47 active relationships with partners spanning all key functions of gambling as a high-risk sector.
Reflecting on EPIC’s trajectory, CEO Paul Buck stated: “When we founded EPIC in 2013, we believed harm prevention needed to sit at the centre of gambling policy, not at the periphery. To see our work now embedded across 30 jurisdictions is a powerful sign that the industry is ready to place prevention on equal footing with regulation and commercial growth.”
North American expansion
EPIC’s momentum has been particularly evident in North America, where it has established itself as a frontline responsible-gaming services provider to market leaders including FanDuel and BetMGM. Its training and consultancy programmes have supported more than 95,000 individuals across the continent, including 27,801 NCAA athletes and staff during the 2024/25 academic cycle.
Meanwhile, the Know Your Play digital portal—developed with ROGA, Kindbridge and RGC—reached 68,435 US college students in just eight months, marking one of the largest youth-focused RG interventions in the region.
EPIC has also deepened its footprint in the daily fantasy sports category, designing tailored training modules for PrizePicks and Underdog. Its work played a central role in PrizePicks becoming the first DFS operator in North America to secure iCAP accreditation for responsible gaming.
Commenting on the market’s evolution, EPIC North America SVP Teresa Fiore said: “North America’s rapid expansion in sports betting brings extraordinary opportunity, but also new responsibility. Our work across the U.S. and Canada is centred on one principle: protecting people. By embedding lived experience, education, and behavioural insight into every partnership, we are helping teams, operators, and regulators create environments where individuals can thrive safely.”
Expanding UK reach & Euro bespoke programmes
Beyond North America, EPIC continues to cement its leadership across the UK and Europe through renewed and expanded partnerships with major operators, sports leagues and integrity bodies.
Entain reinforced its long-term commitment by commissioning EPIC to deliver global staff training across multiple territories, achieving a 99% positive satisfaction rate. In the UK, Sky Bet and Flutter maintained EPIC as their core partner for staff RG training for an eighth consecutive year.
Meanwhile, EPIC played a central role in the launch of William Hill and the Scottish Professional Football League’s gambling-harm education programme, now active across all 42 Scottish clubs and delivering post-session awareness uplift of more than 93% among players.
In Greece, lottery and gaming technology giant INTRALOT elevated EPIC to review and enhance RG frameworks across its active markets, while newly formed FDJ United partnered with EPIC to design specialist training for customer-care teams to strengthen intervention protocols.
Across all territories, EPIC’s programmes engaged more than 109,000 people between September 2024 and August 2025. The reach spans professional athletes across Europe, North America and Australia; operator staff across 18 global gambling brands; youth and community groups; and tens of thousands of students engaged through NCAA partnerships and digital education portals.
This breadth reflects EPIC’s core philosophy that effective training must be grounded in lived experience, blending behavioural science with real-world narratives to shift culture, strengthen empathy and embed sustainable harm-prevention practices.
Beyond Training: 2026 Digital Innovation and R&D
EPIC’s expansion is increasingly driven by research, digital innovation and a dedicated R&D strategy designed to future-proof harm prevention. Among the organisation’s most significant advances is a pioneering PhD study examining gambling’s impact on women’s elite sport, presented at leading conferences in New York and Finland. EPIC has also developed a suite of multilingual eLearning modules for the European Athletes & Players Association (EAPA) as part of the continent-wide PROtect Integrity project, delivering specialist education in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Danish.
Further innovations include scenario-based digital learning tools designed to strengthen early-risk recognition, alongside scalable interactive learning platforms capable of delivering bespoke content across global markets.
On EPIC’s shift towards a research-led future, CEO Paul Buck added: “The future of harm prevention lies in evidence, technology and lived experience working in unison. Our investment in research and digital learning is not a side project—it is central to how prevention must evolve if we’re going to stay ahead of emerging risks in a globalised gambling market.”
As EPIC enters 2026, the organisation’s combination of global programme delivery, expanding R&D capability and lived-experience leadership signals a new era of harm-prevention strategy—one in which prevention, innovation and player protection are increasingly recognised as essential to the long-term sustainability of the gambling industry.