EPIC Wins Socially Responsible Initiative Of The Year At SBC Awards 2026
EPIC Global Solutions has been named winner of the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year at the SBC Awards 2026, recognizing the measurable impact of our player protection and integrity education programs across global sport.
The award was presented by Dutch soccer icon Edgar Davids and renowned British sports broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on October 1, bringing SBC Summit week to a close and recognizing EPIC’s continued work to provide athletes, staff and wider sporting communities with relevant, preventative education around gambling-related risk.
Our winning submission focused on the outcomes being achieved through education programs across professional sport, with particular emphasis on two partnerships that have generated significant reach and impact over the past year: our ongoing work with the League of Ireland, supported by Flutter, and our program with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), supported by William Hill.
The League of Ireland program launched at the beginning of 2026 as a three-year initiative spanning the men’s and women’s game, academies, development teams, match officials and FAI staff.
Its impact has already been significant. More than 70 workshops have reached over 2,000 League of Ireland players and FAI staff, with 89% of participants reporting confidence in recognizing signs of harmful gambling behavior and knowing how to approach related conversations. Meanwhile, 94% reported excellent awareness of FAI and UEFA integrity regulations following the education – including a significant rise from 53% to 94% among women players as a consequence of the sessions.
The success of the program has subsequently led Flutter and the FAI to extend delivery to the new FAI National League.
Our partnership with the SPFL and William Hill has delivered similarly encouraging evidence of impact.
Evaluation from the program’s first year found that 93% of first-team players reported a good or excellent level of awareness around gambling and professional integrity following their session, compared with 74% beforehand.
The program subsequently expanded its focus on preventative education within academy environments, with more than 350 academy players and coaches engaged during the 2025/26 season and 93% of attendees describing their session as “really impactful”.
Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, said:
“Winning this award is fantastic recognition for our team, but also for the organizations that continue to invest in meaningful, preventative education across sport.
“The League of Ireland and SPFL programs demonstrate what can be achieved when rights holders, gambling operators and education providers work collaboratively with a long-term commitment to making a difference. We’re particularly proud that the impact can be demonstrated through the feedback and evaluation we receive from the people taking part.
“Our thanks go to Flutter, William Hill, the FAI, League of Ireland and SPFL, as well as everyone who has engaged with our sessions. This award gives us further motivation to keep raising the standard and extending the reach of this work globally.”
The award adds another significant accolade to EPIC’s record at SBC events around the world.
Between 2022 and 2024, EPIC won Player Protection Service Provider of the Year at the SBC Awards North America for three consecutive years, with our work across sport and the gambling industry in North America central to that recognition.
Having also been shortlisted for Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year at both the SBC Awards Europe and SBC Awards Americas during 2026, success in Lisbon provides further recognition of the growing scale and measurable impact of our prevention-led approach.
Winning the award reinforces our commitment to working collaboratively with sports organizations, gambling operators and other partners to deliver education that is relevant, evidence-led and capable of demonstrating meaningful change – ensuring those closest to sport are better equipped to recognize risk, understand integrity requirements and make informed decisions.
