SPFL academy players developing safer gambling awareness with William Hill and EPIC sessions

Scotland’s most promising young footballers are being supported in making informed, responsible choices around gambling, as a continued collaboration between the Scottish Professional Football League, William Hill, and EPIC Global Solutions delivers meaningful impact across the country’s leading academies.

So far this season, more than 350 academy players and coaches have taken part in the programme. Post-session feedback highlights its effectiveness, with 93% of attendees describing the sessions as “really impactful,” and noting an increased likelihood of making informed decisions about their relationship with gambling.

The initiative is offered to SPFL member clubs as part of William Hill’s title sponsorship of the league and sits alongside the company’s support for the UK-wide statutory levy funded by gambling revenues. EPIC Global Solutions was brought in to deliver the programme, leveraging its expertise in promoting safer gambling practices, particularly within elite sporting environments.

A key feature of the sessions is EPIC’s “lived experience” approach, with presentations led by former professional footballers who have faced their own challenges with disordered gambling. These include former Wales U21 forward Marc Williams, who leads most sessions, and former Scotland international defender Dominic Matteo, known for his time at Liverpool and Leeds United.

Carolanne Gay, academy education executive at Rangers F.C., emphasised the programme’s value for both player welfare and performance:

“We welcomed these sessions from EPIC as a valuable part of our ongoing commitment to player care and wellbeing, seeing them as a key opportunity to ensure that young players who are new to gambling are aware of both the integrity issues involved, and the need for safe engagement with any forms of betting.

“The delivery method, from a former professional player, was a welcome peer-to-peer style that was relatable to our squads and has helped to provide a real-world example of why this education and advice exists. It helps to provide confidence that young players have the knowledge on how to avoid off-field distractions and can focus on their performance and professional growth.”

A similar view was shared across the city by Erin Degg, player wellbeing officer at Celtic F.C.:

“We recognised the importance for our squads to have this educational input and felt EPIC were best placed to deliver this. The main reason being that Marc, the facilitator, is an ex-professional footballer and was able to share his own unique story which brought relevance and relatability to our players.

“Players were overwhelmingly positive after taking part in the workshop, finding the content delivered by Marc very engaging and thought provoking.”

While most sessions during the 2025/26 season have focused on academy age groups — particularly U17 to U19 squads — the programme has also been extended to top-flight women’s teams, as well as staff and participants involved in SPFL Trust initiatives such as “Football Fans in Training,” which promotes fitness and mental wellbeing.

Per Widerström, CEO of evoke, the parent company of William Hill, added:

“We are proud of our partnership with the SPFL and EPIC Global Solutions, and the latest expansion of the programme to academies as a central part of our league sponsorship.

“Equipping young players with the knowledge and confidence to engage with gambling responsibly is essential. The strength of the post-session feedback demonstrates the real impact this education is having, and we remain committed to building on that progress in the season ahead.”

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