BetMGM has extended its relationship with EPIC Global Solutions into a sixth year, drawing on the consultancy’s lived experience model to support player protection excellence across key consumer-facing teams.

BetMGM originally partnered with EPIC to provide meaningful exposure to the human impact of problem gambling for its employees and stakeholders. The “lived experience” approach from EPIC continues to positively impact the organisation’s responsible gambling framework, training strategy, and stakeholder engagement.

Through the extension of the work in 2026, EPIC has initially delivered two sessions of their “Gambling Harm Awareness” program to BetMGM teams during March, coinciding with Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and will undertake two further scheduled sessions with BetMGM’s customer-facing teams later in the year. Additional Gambling Harm Awareness sessions have been agreed for September, alongside digital Responsible Gambling training and an advisory day with EPIC consultants.

Client feedback from the two March engagements has evidenced strong increases in both knowledge and confidence around gambling issues among BetMGM teams. Quantitative feedback from employee surveys confirmed:

• 100% agreed or strongly agreed they had a better understanding of the potential personal, social, and financial effects of gambling harm, as well as a better understanding of how RG supports healthy play and how PG manifests as harm, and how proactive engagement can protect customers and the company;

• 98% agreed or strongly agreed they had a better understanding of how to identify key indicators in customer behavior, communication, or play patterns;

• 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they had better knowledge of the difference between responsible gambling (RG) and problem gambling (PG);

• 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they felt confident recognising the signs of gambling harm and in identifying common risk factors and vulnerable groups.

Richard Taylor, Director of Responsible Gambling, BetMGM, said: “Our long-standing partnership with EPIC Global Solutions continues to play an important role in how we support responsible play at BetMGM. Their lived experience approach brings valuable insight to our teams and enhances how we recognise and respond to gambling-related risk. As we enter our sixth year working together, EPIC’s expertise remains essential to strengthening our culture of responsibility across the business.”

“BetMGM continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to player protection, evidenced by the longevity of their working relationship with EPIC,” said Cory Brown, Gaming Policy & Consumer Protection Manager North America, EPIC Global Solutions.

“We’re pleased to have supported their mission for six years and look forward to further strengthening their team’s knowledge with the additional training we’re scheduled to deliver later this year.”

The impact of EPIC Global Solutions’ gambling harm education program in NCAA colleges during 2025 has been unveiled through the release of a new report, which confirmed that student-athletes are demonstrating high awareness of identifying problem gambling among themselves and team mates.

The Impact Report details how last year saw EPIC’s team of lived experience facilitators deliver to 92 unique institutions and groups within the NCAA, serving over 25,000 people across the spectrum of collegiate sports. After beginning delivery of the initiative in 2022, the running total over the first four years has now exceeded events at more than 300 venues and has engaged more than 100,000 student-athletes, coaches, and support staff.

The mix of authentic stories, key advice on recognizing signs of gambling-related harm, and where to seek support when the issue is presented – delivered by former athletes and college students who speak from personal experience of problem gambling or sporting integrity issues – is intended to empower audiences to make more informed decisions around their personal relationships with sports wagering and other forms of gambling.

Proving the value of the concept, post-session evaluation showed that 96% of student-athletes and 97% of staff reported they could recognize the signs of harmful gambling behavior as a result of interacting with the presentations. Supporting integrity across collegiate sport, the study also confirmed that 84% of student-athletes and 89% of staff now have good or excellent awareness of the NCAA sports wagering regulations.

Clint Hangebrauck, MD of Enterprise Risk Management at NCAA, said: “2025 has proven that sport globally is under immense pressure from the dangers of sports betting. From integrity matters, harassment, and problem gambling, athletes represent a highly vulnerable population that are negatively impacted by the rapid expansion of sports betting.

“The team at EPIC continues to deliver customized education that resonates in ways a poster, digital learning or powerpoint presentation cannot. Their personal stories are a gateway to changing perspective, starting crucial conversations, and empowering athletes to avoid the potential pitfalls which lay before them.

“EPIC and the NCAA remain steadfastly committed to growing this program to meet the needs of our membership.”

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, said: “There has been an increase in integrity matters, reports of problem gambling, and athlete harassment. At the time of a fast-growing industry sector, it is vitally important that athletes are protected and educated across the entire NCAA population with effective and modern education in a diverse and impactful way.

“EPIC is proud to be the primary educators of college athletes in the US, putting lived experience at the heart of everything that we do, and we look forward to building the program even further in the months and years ahead.

“We thank the NCAA for being proactive and thought-leading in efforts for athlete safety and look forward to furthering an already strong relationship in 2026, 2027, and beyond.”

The comprehensive Onrise network will now be able to signpost to services that educate athletes and coaches on better gambling-related choices.

Onrise, the trusted mental health platform for athletes across the US, has agreed to a strategic partnership with leading harm prevention consultants EPIC Global Solutions to enhance gambling harm prevention services for athletes and coaches at professional and collegiate level.

Collaborating to deal with the growing issues connected to sports wagering and other forms of gambling, EPIC’s expertise – grounded in lived experience of gambling addiction – will support the 250+ peer support experts at Onrise by providing face-to-face or digital education options for sports organizations to promote awareness of safer relationships with gambling products.

The additional service will be made available to supplement the comprehensive Onrise network, which includes peer support from retired and certified athletes, licensed therapist, psychiatric care and sports performance, delivered through secure one-on-one sessions with flexible scheduling.

Kim Quigley, founder and CEO of Onrise, brokered the partnership after seeing evidence of EPIC’s delivery method, which currently includes education programs to NCAA student-athletes and staff as well as major league professionals.

“Student-athletes live in a time where gambling and sport intertwine in so many ways, with significant wagering interest in collegiate sport,” said Kim Quigley, MD, CEO of Onrise.

“This partnership with EPIC Global Solutions is about getting in early, before a bet becomes a burden they carry in silence. By pairing world-class gambling education with Onrise’s always-on, athlete-specific mental health care, we can spot risk sooner, intervene faster, and protect their health, future, and the team communities depending on them.”

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, added: “This strategic partnership has arisen because we both felt there was a real alignment of shared values between the two organizations. Gambling and sports wagering is growing fast in the US, not least in the sports and college sectors where we both operate.

“The two organizations are on a growth curve and will be stronger together for our clients and beneficiaries. We are both people centered and athlete focused, dedicated to doing good for mental health, wellbeing and performance.”

The partnership is announced as Problem Gambling Awareness Month begins in the US, running throughout March to raise wider understanding of how gambling issues can be identified and prevented.