The Gambling Harm Prevention in Sport Summit, presented by EPIC Risk Management and UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport (GIS), has a new date – Wednesday 8th February 2023 at Wembley Stadium.

The event had initially been scheduled for this week before regrettably needing to be postponed due to the logistical challenge presented by Wednesday’s nationwide train strike, but the new date ensures that the event can re-convene in the new year with the same opportunities for the invite-only audience to hear from keynote speakers, engage in discussion around best practice and learn from the findings from the first year of activity by EPIC’s Pro Sport Advisory Board.

More than 100 key decision makers – including C-level executives and player welfare specialists from major sports clubs, leagues, governing bodies, as well as their support networks and the gambling industry – are expected to attend the pioneering summit at our Wembley Campus.

They will hear from the select panel of player protection and welfare experts from the sporting, esports and gambling sectors that have come together to form the aforementioned Pro Sport Advisory Board. They will also be unveiling the collective steps that they believe need to be taken to reduce gambling-related issues within the ecosystem of elite sports and esports, with discussions over the release of their inaugural white paper supported by ‘lived experience’ stories from those who have been directly or indirectly affected by problem gambling.

Among the high-profile speakers on the day will be former Premier League manager Brian McDermott, who will be able to reflect on the challenges of witnessing forms of addiction within the dressing room during his esteemed career.

President of GIS, Sharona Friedman, added: “We are thrilled to have a new date in the diary for this pioneering summit looking to tackle the pertinent issue of gambling harm within sport. It’s an honour to host such an important event at our Wembley Campus, and we’re looking forward to working with EPIC Risk Management to continue to create a safer sporting environment.”

Ben McGregor, director of sports partnerships at EPIC Risk Management, added: “We are delighted that our partners from the Global Institute of Sport and the staff at Wembley Stadium have been quick to agree a new date when this hotly anticipated and important summit for the sport industry can take place. 

“This inaugural event provides a unique opportunity to bring together and help support key decision-makers across sports in making a genuine difference when it comes to addressing the issue of reducing the risk of gambling harm, now and in the future. We are excited to have a new date to look forward to and welcoming our guests on February 8th 2023!"

Though the summit is only accessible to individuals on an invite-only basis, EPIC and GIS will be joining forces to release the findings of the ‘Gambling Harm in Pro Sport’ white paper after the event takes place, to ensure that a wider sporting audience can learn from the investigations and act upon wider recommendations to remove gambling harm from their industry wherever possible.

UCFB and GIS is a world-first in higher education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and online degrees in the football and sports industry. From media and marketing to coaching and management, UCFB’s pioneering programmes enable you to kick start your career in any sector of sport.

With alumni currently working at 19 of the Premier League clubs, and 49 of the 72 EFL clubs, as well as Nike, F1, and Sky Sports, our industry-orientated degrees are designed to prepare students for this multi-faceted, multi-billion pound industry. 

EPIC Risk Management is a globally leading independent gambling harm minimisation consultancy. Working across the highest risk sectors for gambling-related harm, EPIC has worked in 27 countries on ground-breaking harm minimisation programmes, sector-leading gambling operator training, and class-leading advisory. EPIC draws on lived experience to help individuals and organisations across high-risk sectors and the gambling industry to minimise the risks posed by gambling harm.