EPIC Risk Management has unveiled the first members of its ‘Pro Sport Advisory Board’ which has been established to safeguard and raise awareness of gambling harm’s threat to elite sports.

The nine-person board is composed of diverse members who each provide expertise in pro-sports, gambling, addiction, sports integrity, athlete welfare and the lived experience of gambling harms.

Board members will advise EPIC on the organisation’s strategic approach related to elite sport’s treatment of gambling harms and addiction as a prominent risk that impacts both athletes and their families as well as threatening pro-sports integrity.   

Pro Athletes’ well-being will be represented by Marcus Horan, former Ireland Rugby international and the current Player Development Manager for Rugby Players Ireland, and Nick Denning, Personal Development Manager at The Professional Cricketers Association.

The board’s gambling expertise will be maintained by Adam Brickell, the Director of Public Affairs at Flutter Entertainment, and Steve Emberson, Betting Integrity Manager at Genius Sports.

Football safer gambling oversight will be led by Michelle Evans, Head of Communications and Wellbeing at PFA Scotland, and Jack Francis, Head of Academy Player Care at Chelsea FC.

Esports athlete welfare will be overseen by Mads Øland – Former CEO and Advisor of Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association (CSPPA) and Board member of FIFPRO – who will be supported by Cam Adair, a speaker and leading expert on video game addiction.

EPIC’s advisory is finalised by Caryl Banks, Manager of the NFLPA’s Professional Athletes Foundation – the charitable arm of the NFL Players Association as the board’s US sports representative.

“We are extremely proud to announce such a diverse and wide-ranging advisory board,” said EPIC Risk Management’s CEO and founder, Paul Buck.

“All members are experts and well-respected in their field of expertise, and we feel their knowledge and personal experiences will make a valuable contribution to this board.

“In turn, we’re delighted to provide members of the board the opportunity to guide our harm minimisation programmes across elite sport which will ultimately protect athletes in their careers from gaming and gambling harm and promote and advocate the importance of awareness and education across these areas.”