The Irish professional football landscape is tackling the growing problem of gambling among its players. The League of Ireland, the country’s main competition, has just unveiled an ambitious and pioneering programme to train players, staff and officials to avoid the pitfalls of compulsive gambling.
When gambling threatens more than chance
In recent years, the debate about the negative impact of gambling on young adults and sportsmen and women has intensified in Ireland. Public and private services are stepping up their resources and support in response to an increase in problem behaviour observed in various sections of society.
On 19 January 2026, the League of Ireland announced the roll-out of a three-year gambling prevention programme, with the aim of directly training more than 2,000 players in Irish football.
Under the aegis of EPIC Global Solutions, a company with an international reputation for assisting sports organisations with educational programmes, the scheme combines face-to-face training, testimonials from former professionals and modules on integrity in sport. The sessions are not limited to footballers: coaches, referees and staff from Irish national football (FAI) are also involved.
Funding for the initiative is being provided by Flutter, a global gambling giant known for Paddy Power and PokerStars. The group is not new to the game: it was behind the very first gambling prevention programme in England, set up in collaboration with EPIC Global Solutions and the English Football League.
Kevin Harrington, Managing Director of Flutter UK & Ireland:
“As a major gambling operator, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of security and trust, and we take our responsibility to protect our customers and the integrity of sport very seriously. As a global company founded in Ireland, we are extremely proud to be able to fund this three-year independent programme, which supports the League’s proactive prevention and awareness-raising efforts.”
An ambitious programme
The scale of the programme is significant: each year, 70 workshops or sessions will be organised, covering different levels and categories of Irish football. This includes senior men’s and women’s teams, youth academies, development clubs as well as match officials and administrative staff.
But beyond the numbers, it’s the content and speakers that will stand out. The sessions will be led by former players and athletes who have personally experienced gambling addiction, providing a real and sometimes poignant testimony. Offering a platform to those who have been behind the scenes is a rare approach in traditional sports training, but it is precisely this that gives this programme its singular strength.
In the League’s official press release, Mark Scanlon, its director, stressed the importance of a proactive approach:
“As the League of Ireland grows each year, it is very important that we work with all stakeholders, including our players and referees, to emphasise the importance of integrity at all levels. This partnership with EPIC also allows us to look at ways of preventing potential betting-related harm to our players. We know that the vast majority of people gamble without any problems. But the seminars at our Academy clubs will be extremely useful and will raise awareness among the next generation of Irish footballers. We’ve seen what EPIC does for the English Football Association and it has a measurable effect. We look forward to seeing this in the League of Ireland.”
Stephen McGuiness, General Secretary of the Professional Footballers Association Ireland (PFAI), called the partnership fundamental to protecting the future of Irish football.
“EPIC has an excellent reputation and proven track record of working with gambling organisations in Ireland, which gives us confidence in the quality and impact of this programme. We are also looking forward to hearing former PFA Ireland members share their personal stories of how gambling has adversely affected their lives, which adds a strong and recognisable perspective to the training. Protecting the welfare of players and helping them make informed choices is a responsibility we take very seriously, and this initiative reflects our commitment to caring for Irish league players.”
A cultural change in the making
Focusing on education rather than punishment fosters an environment where players become aware of the warning signs, identify the pitfalls of excessive gambling and know where to turn for help. This paradigm shift – from stigmatisation to prevention and support – is essential if we are to respond to a problem that is becoming increasingly visible but has been neglected for too long.
By tackling this challenge head on, the League of Ireland is placing education, integrity and human protection at the heart of its sporting project. And for a country where gambling affects hundreds of thousands of people, this is perhaps the first step towards lasting change.