2024: An EPIC year in review
As we all reflect on our respective achievements during 2024, it’s amazing how much change has occurred around the world. However, one thing that has remained steadfastly unchanged has been EPIC Global Solutions’ desire to prevent gambling-related harm from affecting people of all backgrounds and nations.
Twelve months on from adopting our new company identity, we have once again been proud to engage with a not inconsiderable number of people around the world, with the intention of ensuring that our audience – and in turn, those close to them – have been equipped with the knowledge to make more informed decisions regarding their relationship with gambling.
We caught up with three members of our senior leadership team to assess their views on the year that’s close to conclusion and their hopes for 2025.
Answering in Q&A format are SVP corporate operations Danielle Smith, principal consultant Dan Spencer and VP of partnerships Mike Holinski…
Which of EPIC’s achievements are you most proud of in 2024?
Smith: “I’m proud of our reach and impact: it’s our purpose and we have delivered beyond expectations in 2024, but not only that, our ambition to do so much more in 2025 and beyond is exciting. We should all be really proud of our achievements as an EPIC team!”
Spencer: “I’m most proud of the reach that we’ve had in 2024. Over 55,000 delegates have attended in-person or online sessions across the world. When you’re delivering high-level education to specific audiences across the gambling industry and in professional and collegiate sports, that’s not easy, and our teams have done an amazing job this year to get us in front of the right people. The majority of this training has been targeting individuals who are at high-risk of harm themselves who are now equipped to be proactive in keeping safe if they choose to gamble.”
Holinski: “It’s difficult to single out just one achievement, as 2024 has been an incredibly successful year for EPIC. From welcoming new clients and earning prestigious awards to the significant impact of our programmes and reaching over 55,000 people – wow! None of this would have been possible without the incredible team driving it all. I like to say it’s been an EPIC year, powered by an EPIC team!”
Where do you think we’ve made the biggest impact in mitigating against gambling-related harm this year?
Smith: “I’m really pleased with our growth and impact in North America. It was always going to be difficult to break and we have laid some solid foundations there for 2025 and beyond.”
Spencer: “Speaking to the work I’ve contributed most to this year, we’ve ‘levelled-up’ our industry clients to take care of their customer base in ways we’ve not seen before. Our consultancy services have engaged with the biggest betting brands in the world to help them identify concerning signs at an earlier stage and conduct meaningful interactions. We’ve seen commitment levels rise across the last few years, with 2024 being a significant year in player protection for us. I think that intervention and treatment is vital, but I’m passionate that we step in as early as possible to educate players and nudge them in the right direction. We’ve really leveraged technology to help us do that this year.”
Holinski: “Our biggest impact in mitigating gambling-related harm has been in the breadth and consistency of our work. Whether it’s through our awareness campaigns, education initiatives, training sessions, workshops, or our advisory and consultancy services, we’re making a difference every single day. Every action we take, regardless of the format, plays a vital role in reducing gambling-related harm.”
Which project(s) have you most enjoyed working on in the past 12 months?
Smith: “It’s been a challenge, but for Operations, keeping up with the growth of the company and remaining proactive rather than reactive has been really pleasing. We are in a great place, and continually improving. It has also been particularly exciting to see the internal development of a new digital offering that we’ll start to roll out in 2025, offering us fantastic potential to expand the reach of our messaging to new audiences and territories.”
Spencer: “Teaming up with the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), Kindbridge and RGC, we are set to launch a pioneering education program in early 2025 aimed at US college students. The collaboration on the project has been extremely rewarding and I can’t wait to see the success following launch next year.”
Holinski: “There have been so many incredible projects over the past 12 months across the UK, Europe, the USA, and Canada. Among them, we’ve launched some truly impactful initiatives with partners like evoke, ROGA, FanDuel, and Kaizen, to name just a few. One standout has been our partnership with ROGA, which is particularly exciting as it’s the first of its kind in the US. Collaborating with all the stakeholders involved on that project has been a fantastic experience and a real highlight of the year.”
What are you most looking forward to working on in 2025?
Smith: “In 2025, I’m really looking forward to making things even better, growing even bigger, and enabling that reach and impact. We have a clear plan, and it’s a really exciting time for EPIC… Let’s go!”
Spencer: “We have some new engagements with operators across Europe and North America that will kick off in 2025, it’s always great to see a new relationship begin and I love seeing new audiences engage with us for the first time. The reaction is always positive and it’s exciting to come up with new ideas together as the project evolves.”
Holinski: “I’m looking forward to building on our success and doing it all over again—but bigger, better, and with an even wider reach. 2025 is about amplifying our impact, expanding our partnerships, and continuing to push boundaries to create meaningful change.”
Stay tuned for what’s to come from EPIC in 2025… as well as this website, stay in touch with us via the following platforms…
