Professional basketball player Jordan Spencer joins EPIC

EPIC Risk Management have further strengthened their team of lived experience facilitators having welcomed professional basketball player Jordan Spencer to their ever-growing team.

The former London Lions and US college basketball star’s career has been affected by both the harm resulting from problem gambling and the after-effects of it; an integrity breach after going against competition rules and betting on fixtures in which he played.

Spencer received a fine, a conditional suspension on league games and a temporary suspension from representing Great Britain.

He comments: “It completely changed the trajectory of my career. I was once coming out as one of the star-studded players in the UK to play and put on a shirt. It completely changed my confidence, the way I see the game, my relationships, and my approach to my daily living.”

Jordan came to the realisation that he wanted to raise awareness around the harms of gambling addiction. He was specifically interested in educating other athletes, as he hadn’t felt clued up on what was okay and what wasn’t as an athlete.

His recovery journey continues as he takes on a programme facilitator role at EPIC Risk Management. Reflecting on the opportunity, he added:

“It was just something that I’ve always wanted to do after my career, help other people, other athletes, with this horrible addiction. Being able to tell my story, hopefully that will help other people, other athletes, not make the same mistakes I did.”

Spencer will combine his new role with EPIC – primarily addressing audiences from the world of professional sport on the after-effects of gambling-related harm – with an extension of his basketball career with his hometown club, newly-promoted Milton Keynes Breakers.

Click here to hear from Jordan about how gambling harm impacted upon his career.