Safer gambling workshops having positive impact on horse racing staff
Workshops aimed at promoting safer gambling are having a positive impact on horseracing industry staff – according to new data from leading independent gambling harm minimisation consultancy EPIC Global Solutions in readiness for Safer Gambling Week 2024 (18-24 November).
Since 2022, human welfare charity Racing Welfare and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), have been working in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions to deliver the programme of face-to-face educational workshops to racing staff. Through sharing lived experience stories, the aim is to raise awareness of, minimise and ultimately prevent gambling-related harm within the racing industry and to create an understanding of how gambling can be enjoyed safely and responsibly.
The partnership is now also looking to roll-out ‘Tack Room Talks’ which are shortened, informal sessions, delivered in workplaces in a bid to reach even more people in racing.
In the past year (1st November 2023 to 31st October 2024), 47 workshop sessions were delivered at various racing educational establishments, yards and racecourses and were attended by a total of 753 industry staff. Crucially, of those who completed the feedback form following sessions, 95% indicated that they now felt they have good or excellent awareness of how to recognise the signs of harmful gambling behaviour, with 42% reporting low or no awareness previously. The survey also found most respondents, 94%, felt confident they know where to seek support if worried about their gambling behaviour.
Programme facilitator Marc Williams at EPIC, a former professional footballer, recently delivered a session to staff at Hereford Racecourse. He shared his story of how he turned to gambling after a huge setback in his career as a form of escape – something which led to a 12-year addiction.
General manager at Hereford, Camilla Esling said:
“I think it’s really important that Marc spoke to us as a team here today. We obviously all have different interactions with gambling, especially the business we work in, but also the people that are then coming to our sites too, whether that’s racegoers, or people on the professional side that make it all happen. Everybody has contact with it, everybody impacts everybody. The fact that the session is delivered from somebody that’s had that lived experience, I don’t think anything beats that. And it was just nice to hear the emotion and how he’s been able to come full circle and make that recovery.”
Chloe Martin, head of community engagement at Racing Welfare said:
“We all know that racing and gambling are intrinsically linked and that for the majority, gambling can be enjoyed safely and responsibly. Through taking this preventative approach with these workshops for people working in the industry, we’re hoping to promote a positive culture around safer gambling, raise awareness of the signs of problem gambling, how to get help and support if or even before it becomes a problem.”
Greg Swift, director of communications and corporate affairs at the BHA, said:
“The relationship between racing and betting creates a unique environment for staff working within the sport. It is why the BHA engaged with EPIC’s programme of responsible gambling workshops, and we encourage those who haven’t yet had a session to look to do so in 2025. It’s important to help educate staff on how betting should, and can be, an enjoyable addition to their career in British racing rather than something that causes a problem.”
The workshops are free to anyone working in the horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry and can be arranged at a workplace upon request. To find out more or to book a session, please contact Liam Dyche, head of programme management at EPIC Global Solutions on 07923 056861 or ldyche@epicglobalsolutions.com.
