In a landmark partnership, SIGA, through its business development arm SIGA SOLUTIONS, has joined forces with EPIC Global Solutions, a distinguished SIGA Member, to collaborate to set new standards for safer sports gambling practices. This strategic alliance was formalized in a public ceremony held during the SIGA Summit on Female Leadership in Sport, in New York on 6 March.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA and Chairman & CEO of SIGA SOLUTIONS, and Paul Buck, founder and CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, addressed the agreement and the impacts for all Sport Stakeholders during the event. This partnership represents a significant advance in the Sport Industry, aiming to deliver a pioneering suite of services focused on cutting-edge training, education, and capacity building in relation to Sport Betting Integrity. The collaboration brings to the forefront a unique blend of resources, knowledge and expertise and will include initiatives designed to mitigate gambling-related harm and fostering a safer and more responsible gambling environment within the sports ecosystem.
AS fully supports SIGA in its mission to enhance integrity in sport, close the gender gap, and create opportunities for female leaders throughout the industry, and is proud to be an official media partner for the Summit on Female Leadership in Sport.
Key elements of SIGA-EPIC union
SIGA is the world’s largest coalition fighting for integrity within sports and has shared the following key parts of the collaboration:
- Lived Experience Coaches: Workshops, facilitated by former athletes who have had a previous experience of gambling harm, for athletes and employees, which raise awareness and educate on safer gambling practices.
- Consultancy Services: Tailored advisory services for senior leaders and executives, focusing on commercial betting partnerships, marketing and communications strategies, brand and governance enhancement, gambling policy, and employee welfare.
- Brand/CSR Programmes: Innovative programmes aimed at Sports fans, extending educational outreach into communities through schools, universities, and businesses, promoting responsible gambling and safeguarding the Integrity of Sport.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating:
“The collaboration with EPIC Global Solutions represents a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to safeguard Sport Integrity and combat gambling-related harm. The reality is undeniable: the data regarding the scale, prevalence and impacts of gambling addiction worldwide is as alarming as the case studies are harrowing.
“The need for concerted action is greater than ever and the time for this action is now. Leveraging the combination of SIGA’s knowledge and EPIC’s expertise, we are set to embark on a transformative journey that will deliver the necessary solutions to safeguard Sport and its participants from harm, particularly those that are most vulnerable or susceptible to exploitation.”
Paul Buck echoed this sentiment, highlighting the synergy between the two organizations and their shared vision for a safer sports betting landscape:
“EPIC are pleased to be furthering our existing relationship with SIGA in a bid to ensure that a reduction in both gambling-related harm and sporting integrity issues can go hand-in-hand. We have created a strong network of elite partners across global sport, and look forward to supporting even more of the people involved with leading clubs, leagues and governing bodies through this relationship, delivering on the recommendations that we shared with professional sport through the release of our Gambling Harm Prevention in Sport Review white paper last year.
“We specialize in learning from lived experience, and having built up considerable knowledge around how to help sporting institutions to minimize the risk of gambling harm and related integrity issues, we look forward to sharing this expertise with an ever-growing audience.”
As part of its comprehensive strategy to prevent gambling from adversely affecting athletes, executives employees, fans, and the broader sports integrity and reputation, SIGA, SIGA SOLUTIONS and EPIC Global Solutions encourage all stakeholders to engage with this groundbreaking initiative.