League of Ireland launches gambling education programme
The move comes ahead of online gambling licensing in Ireland.
Ireland.- The League of Ireland has launched new measures to tackle problem gambling in football, aligning with growing regulatory attention to gambling’s social consequences in Ireland. The League is rolling out an educational programme developed with the consultancy EPIC Global Solutions as the new Irish gambling regulator prepares to launch a new licensing regime in the country.
The initiative has the support of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the National League Committee, and the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland). It will provide training for coaches, referees and FAI staff, with sessions covering betting integrity and responsible gambling. Former professional players who have experienced gambling harm, including Dominic Matteo, Marc Williams, and Scott Davies will deliver face-to-face workshops.
The structure mirrors EPIC’s prevention programme in the English Football League (EFL), which was run in collaboration with Sky Bet. Dublin-headquartered Flutter Entertainment, Sky Bet’s parent company, is financing the Irish initiative. The company has deep Irish roots since its creation through the merger of Paddy Power and Betfair in 2016.
In total, 70 individual workshops will be held for 32 Senior Teams (20 men’s and 12 women’s), 26 Academies, and 10 Women’s Development League teams at training facilities across Ireland with additional two sessions for FAI staff and League of Ireland Match Officials, reaching over 2,000 participants annually.
League director Mark Scanlon said: “As the League of Ireland grows each year, it is very important to work with all stakeholders including our players and match officials at the centre of the game to stress the importance of integrity at all levels.
“This partnership with EPIC also means we can also look to prevent potential gambling harm amongst our players. We know the vast majority of people gamble without an issue. But the seminars at our Academy clubs will be hugely beneficial and educate for the next generation of Irish footballers. We have seen the work that EPIC is doing with the English Football League and it’s having a measurable impact. We look forward to seeing that replicated in the League of Ireland.”
Kevin Harrington, CEO of Flutter UK and Ireland, commented: “As a major betting operator, we pride ourselves in leading the industry on safety and trust, and we take our responsibilities around protecting our customers and the integrity of sport seriously. As a global company founded in Ireland, we are incredibly proud to fund this independently provided three-year programme, supporting the League’s commitment to proactive prevention and education.”
The announcement follows the gambling reforms being introduced under the Irish Gambling Regulation Act of 2024, which established the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRA). Online gambling licensing is expected to begin early this year. The move has intensified scrutiny of the relationship between sport and betting, drawing public and political concern about gambling-related harm.
Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC, emphasised the programme’s purpose: “Following the success of similar initiatives we’ve delivered in elite sport, this prevention-based programme looks to empower players to recognise the signs of gambling harm, be more informed about their relationship with betting and better equipped to understand pathways to support,” he said.
“More significantly, the message is conveyed powerfully and with real meaning by individuals whom players are likely to respect – former footballers and athletes sharing their individual experiences in face-to-face sessions. They have encountered problems, and they simply did not have the same opportunity or education around prevention that we are now in a fortunate position to provide for the league. We are really pleased to be able to bring this training to Irish players.”
