Ireland's first peer-led gambling awareness programme for footballers has completed its senior team rollout, reaching over 1,250 players, FAI staff, and club and match officials within three months of its inception. This marks the completion of the initiative’s first phase, with 94% of players now aware of FAI and UEFA integrity regulations.
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League of Ireland's gambling awareness programme
The gambling awareness programme, funded by Flutter, is a three-year partnership between the League of Ireland (LOI) and education provider EPIC Global Solutions (EPIC). The initiative, which began in January, has successfully delivered workshops across all 32 senior men’s and women’s teams in the league.
Designed to run 70 sessions per year, the programme aims to engage over 2,000 participants annually. Its primary goal is to enhance understanding and prevent gambling-related harm within the football community.
Programme impacting men's, women's and academy football
Stephen McGuiness, general secretary of the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland, praised the programme's significant impact in supporting and guiding players. More than 1,000 players have participated in workshops since the programme's launch, and almost 100 Football Association of Ireland (FAI) staff attended sessions at the federation headquarters in Dublin.
EPIC, rebranded from EPIC Risk Management in 2023, has tailored its sessions to incorporate lived experiences from high-profile figures. For instance, former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo openly discussed his personal struggles with gambling debts in the Irish programme.
Initial data released by EPIC underscores the effectiveness of the sessions. Post-workshop surveys reveal shifts in participants’ awareness and confidence:
- 89% of male and female participants said they were confident they could recognise signs of harmful gambling behaviour and knew how to raise concerns.
- Reported awareness of FAI and UEFA integrity regulations rose to 94% after sessions.
- Female participants gave particularly strong quality ratings, with 98% scoring sessions between 8 and 10 out of 10.
- LOI officials described the data as providing “gender‑specific insights” to shape future messaging and interventions.
Plans and regulatory changes
Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, stating that the high percentage of players confident in recognising harmful gambling behaviour validates the programme's approach.
Meanwhile, Mark Scanlon, director of the League of Ireland, added that they look forward to rolling out the education programme across their clubs' academy teams over the next few months.
The programme's success comes as Ireland’s gambling regulatory landscape changes. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) officially came into force in March 2025, with betting licence applications opening in February 2026 as part of a phased rollout. This underscores the importance of such awareness programmes in the evolving landscape of sports and gambling.
