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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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NODWIN Gaming partners with Esports World Cup Foundation to manage media rights sales across South Asia
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem has officially partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights sales across South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other surrounding territories.
NODWIN Gaming will act as the strategic support for the EWCF in the region, supporting with media rights sales and distribution strategies for the EWC across South Asia. The partnership aims to bring the Esports World Cup to a broader audience of fans in one of the fastest-growing esports markets globally. Additionally, NODWIN Gaming will act as the EWCF’s marketing partner for the Indian market, to conceptualize and execute local campaigns and initiatives that support the Foundation’s mission of elevating esports and gaming culture worldwide.
The EWCF is the nonprofit organization behind the Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest multi-title esports competition. The 2024 inaugural edition featured 1,500 elite players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing across 21 titles for a record-breaking $60 million prize pool. With 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million in-person attendees, the EWC set a new benchmark for esports competitions worldwide.
With a proven legacy in managing media rights for the targeted distribution of world-class esports and entertainment content, NODWIN Gaming has successfully brought competitive gaming to mainstream audiences through multiple broadcast platforms, including television and OTT services. Its marquee IP, the Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS), is currently the only Indian esports tournament to air on national television, broadcasting on Star Sports for three consecutive years. The company has also delivered top-tier productions and media rights solutions for properties such as the eISL in collaboration with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the VALORANT Challengers South Asia with Riot Games, the Mountain Dew Arena with ESL India, and the Kingfisher India Premiership, among others.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming said, “The Esports World Cup is a landmark moment for global esports, and we’re proud to partner with the EWCF to bring that experience to South Asia. This partnership is about more than just broadcasting a tournament – it’s about building a bridge between South Asia’s incredibly passionate gaming communities and the global stage that the EWCF represents. Whether it’s in India, Bangladesh,
Nepal or beyond, our goal is to make world-class esports content more accessible than ever. We’re excited to work closely with the EWCF to not only grow the tournament’s reach but to also support the larger ecosystem and community it helps foster.”
The EWCF is dedicated to supporting the long-term growth and financial sustainability of the global esports and gaming sectors. The foundation’s mission is to advocate for the entire ecosystem including players, fans, and businesses and to reinvest any proceeds back into initiatives that fuel the development of the industry.
“Our mission at the Esports World Cup Foundation is to create lasting impact for the global esports industry by setting new competitive benchmarks and forging partnerships that understand the nuances of each region. South Asia represents an incredibly dynamic and fast-growing gaming market, and NODWIN Gaming brings unparalleled knowledge, reach, and local trust to this ecosystem. By partnering with NODWIN, we are not only ensuring that the Esports World Cup reaches more fans, but we are also reinforcing our commitment to making esports more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.” stated Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Through this association, the EWCF strengthens its global presence while leveraging NODWIN Gaming’s deep-rooted experience in youth engagement, esports content, and regional distribution across emerging economies.
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Esports World Cup Foundation Expands India Presence with S8UL’s Inclusion in the EWCF Club Partner Program, BGMI Invitation to EWC 2025, and broadcast on one of India’s leading streaming platforms
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced a major expansion of its engagement with the Indian esports ecosystem. Key developments include a soon-to-be-announced strategic broadcast partnership with India’s leading streaming and digital services company, an official invitation of a Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) team to compete at the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), and the inclusion of premier Indian organization S8UL in the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Program.
The initiatives mark a key milestone in EWCF’s mission to unite global esports fans under one competitive platform and reinforces its commitment to integrating one of the world’s fastest-growing esports markets into EWC while expanding opportunities for players, clubs and fans across the region.
“The Esports World Cup’s purpose is to unite the global gaming community, and that means investing in regions driving the future of the industry,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “India is central to that vision. With hundreds of millions of mobile-first players, it’s home to an ecosystem evolving at an incredible pace—from championship Clubs like S8UL to leading digital platforms that are transforming how fans experience esports. Through expanded partnerships and competitive pathways, we’re shaping the future of Indian esports, empowering its players and Clubs to compete at the highest level at EWC, bringing the best of the Esports World Cup to the country.”
The invitation to the winner of the BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA PRO SERIES (BMPS) marks the first time that an Indian team will compete against the best teams from the rest of the world at the Esports World Cup, representing a milestone moment for the title’s integration into international competition and a reflection of the rapid growth and potential of mobile gaming in the country.
India’s leading broadcast partner, soon to be announced, will play a pivotal role in expanding access, amplifying fan engagement, and supporting India-based programming throughout the EWC 2025 season, including localized broadcasts, community events, and exclusive content offerings aimed at the subcontinent’s 500+ million gamers.
This year, the Mumbai-based organization S8UL Esports joined the EWCF Club Partner Program. S8UL, forged via a merger of two legendary Indian teams in SOUL and 8bit, is a prime example of a Club that’s accelerated their growth through the Program. The Club has already qualified for EWC 2025 in Apex Legends, EA SPORTS FC, and is competing for qualification in additional titles including Tekken, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, BGMI and Chess.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The EWC 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.
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A brand-new industry-facing name has been announced: Wildz Group™, powered by award-winning iGaming platform Rootz. In recognition of industry developments and company growth, Wildz Group™ has formed, as a collective of leading gambling entertainment brands.
The name directly references the Group’s iconic online casino and sports superbrand, Wildz.
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The new Group will contain the Rootz Platform, powering the six existing gambling brands – Wildz™ Casino, Caxino™ Casino, Wheelz™ Casino, Spinz™ Casino, Chipz™ Casino, and Tuplaus™ Casino – with some exciting new additions in 2025 and beyond.
The leadership team believes Wildz Group will be the catalyst for even greater growth with suppliers, business partners, and collaborators across the gaming industry.
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