GVC Holdings has announced the latest stage in its responsible gambling drive, aligning with Epic Risk Management to launch a series of initiatives, including “a major” school awareness programme.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement alongside the UK’s independent gambling harm minimisation consultancy, advice is to be provided and training delivered across three key areas.

Providing guidance on the company’s responsible gambling strategy, Epic is to focus upon identifying the best approach to take when interacting with individuals displaying signs of problem gambling.

In addition a series of RG workshops are to be rolled out across the highest risk populations, including charitable partners working within problem gambling support.

Further developments are to see the delivery of “the world’s largest face-to-face gambling awareness and education programme for school children”.

GVC and Epic are to deliver courses to 12,000 school children, across 100 UK state establishments over a two year period, with the aim of enabling individuals to make “more informed decision” when old enough to partake in gambling.

Within each area Epic is to also provide a number of additional services, including key case reviews, policy development, executive support and education.

Paul Buck, chief executive of Epic Risk Management, explained: “Epic are committed to reducing gambling related harm, and helping to advise and educate organisations in the highest risk sectors in how to pro-actively make gambling safer and fairer for all, especially young people.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with GVC as they aspire to improve standards around responsible gambling, and provide a safer environment for their customers and their employees.”

Working alongside Epic marks the latest strand within GVC’s CSR strategy, for which the organisation has rolled out a series of policies under three principal pillars of responsible gambling, responsible employer and responsible communities.

Grainne Hurst, GVC’s director of responsible gambling, added: “We are delighted to be working with Epic, and to be able to utilise their expertise to help us to deliver an industry-leading approach to all aspects of responsible gambling.

“This agreement supports our commitment to create the safest gaming environment for our customers, employees and wider society, including young people.”