With a number of partnerships entered, initiatives launched and recruitment strategies in full flow 2019 was key year for Epic Risk Management, with a “massive” 12 months ahead predicted.

Epic’s CEO Paul Buck is to also take up a place at CasinoBeats Malta in May to debate, among other things, if the UKGC’s decision to ban credit card betting represent a step in the right direction in terms of responsible gambling or if are there too many loopholes.

Looking at the immediate future, Buck explained: “Epic continues to move from strength to strength. We are becoming the trusted gambling harm prevention partner to an ever growing number of organisations across the gambling industry in addition to professional sport, financial services, education and the criminal justice sector. In 2019 we worked in 14 different countries and this year this will rise to over 20 including Israel, Antigua and a huge new focus in the USA working across all pro sport and NCAA. 

“Other highlights in 2020 will be new programmes in professional rugby union with the Rugby Players Association, professional cricket with the Professional Cricketers Association and the continuation of our official partnerships with the Boarding Schools Association and Headmasters Conference where we will see over 50,000 children directly this year providing gambling awareness sessions and impactful, high quality education.”

“It was a project that we wanted to support as an example that gambling addiction can be overcome”

The gambling harm minimisation specialists are to also support boxer Nathan Quarless through his own recovery journey during 2020, as Buck elaborated on his journey: “Nathan is a young man who suffered a serious gambling addiction and is overcoming it.

“I met him at a recent North West Gambling Harms Alliance conference in Preston and was inspired by his story. He is a brilliant boxer who has just turned pro and it was a project that we wanted to support as an example that gambling addiction can be overcome. A powerful story of hope. 

“We will be helping sponsor Nathan’s training and kit and in return he will be sharing his story to carefully selected audiences. This is just one example of Epic’s social purpose. We are a commercially sustainable but socially driven business. 

“In 2019 we spent over £20,000 on good causes connected to the sectors we work including art materials to support the mental health of prisoners, cameras for the Storybook Dads charity, numerous sponsorship of young sports teams in underprivileged areas and support for homeless people through our connections to Big Issue. It’s a modern way of working for a social business and a model we are really proud of.”

The second edition of CasinoBeats Malta is to welcome up to 1,500 delegates to the InterContinental Malta on March 24-26, offering delegates unparalleled networking opportunities alongside six tracks of conference content.

As a former problem gambler myself who used 16 credit cards I am personally supportive of the move”

Buck’s participation comes as part of the PaymentExpert Forum in a panel titled ‘Credit Crunch: Gambling payment restrictions – more to come post-UK legislation review?’

“Credit cards have now been banned from April in the UK and it will become a hot topic in other European countries,” Buck said ahead of the discussion. 

“As a former problem gambler myself who used 16 credit cards I am personally supportive of the move. In most instances people will gamble with a credit card when they have run out of cash or debit card money and no one should gamble with money (or time) that they can’t afford to lose.”

Before moving on to discuss the wider event in general as well as the potential major takeaways across the two days: “Epic’s whole purpose is to raise awareness of gambling related harms and to work with those sectors where it is most prevalent to improve standards and make gambling safer and fairer for all. The work with the gambling industry is vital. 

“Rather than just say you have to get better we use our lived experience base and nextgen training to show them how. Malta is a hub of gambling operators so to be able to reach this audience in such a top quality conference is vital. We have already done a lot of work in Malta but there is much more to do.

“We are looking forward to catching up with our current clients and furthering discussions with more. In a fast evolving industry it is important to share our knowledge and expertise but also hear what others are doing and the latest trends and initiatives in Malta and across Europe. Epic pride themselves on being the leaders in the safer gambling field for prevention so it’s important we stay ahead and visible.”

CasinoBeats Malta (March 24-26, 2020) will bring together 1,500 senior-level attendees from operators, suppliers, affiliates and regulators, as well as 130 leading industry speakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the online casino sector.

Learn more about the event and buy your tickets here

To inquire about exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at CasinoBeats Malta, please contact [email protected]