awards
EPIC retain SBC’s Player Protection award for a third consecutive year
EPIC Global Solutions have completed a hat-trick of wins at the prestigious SBC Awards North America, having been named as the event’s ‘Player Protection Service Provider of the Year’ for a third year in a row.
The globally-leading specialists in mitigating gambling-related harm were recognised once again at the New York ceremony, at an event that acknowledges excellence across all aspects of the gambling industry across North America.
EPIC provides a range of consultancy, education and training services around recognising signs of problem gambling to a range of sectors across the continent, with a particular focus on working with sports organisations, gambling operators and gambling industry regulators.
The company’s work in conjunction with the NCAA and Entain Foundation US – which has seen over 55,000 student-athletes and staff at more than 200 US college campuses educated on gambling-related harm in the past three years – was highlighted within the nomination for the award, and drew praise from EPIC’s CEO and founder Paul Buck, who explained:
“There are now 38 states where sports gambling is legalised. Gambling is growing, so the level of harm that will come will also grow.
“Recognising player protection at events like this wasn’t happening five or ten years ago, but it’s becoming an increasingly bigger issue and we’re glad to be at the front of that and hope to remain that way for the next five years and beyond.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the lived experience facilitators who go out there and tell their stories day in, day out, all around the country in each of the 52 states that we work in.
“I’d also like to make some special mentions to the NCAA, who work with us massively on the front foot on a topic which is becoming bigger and bigger within the student-athlete population, and the Entain Foundation US, who have been there helping to fund programmes like ours for the past few years.”
Lived experience is at the heart of everything that EPIC does, with the lessons taken from the harm experienced earlier in life by around half of its current workforce being the driving force behind the company’s mission and the knowledge that informs the programmes it delivers.
Therefore, Buck is incredibly proud of the team contribution that has once again been recognised via the award at SBC’s showpiece event in the US. He added:
“It’s always nice just to be here and spread our message and meet friends, clients and stakeholders, but to come away and win this award three times on the trot is fantastic.
“It just shows that the level of work we do and the impact that we’re having is growing and growing, year by year, which makes us even more proud to win it. I’m so incredibly proud, not just of the work we do, but of the people who work within EPIC.”
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the recipients of the 2025 National Awards. Each year, NCPG honors individuals and organizations from around the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling. The awards ceremony, exclusively sponsored by Scientific Games, took place on Friday, July 18, in Columbus, Ohio, during the National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling 2025.
The 2025 NCPG National Awards Recipients include:
• Lifetime Award for Research: Dr. Michael Wohl, Carleton University
• Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Oregon Lottery
• Jeffrey M. Beck Recovery Ambassador Award: Peggy Brown
• Service Award: Susan Diamond, Responsible Gambling Program Manager with the Ohio Lottery
• Joanna Franklin Award for Direct Service: Jeremy Eberle, Co-Owner and Therapist, Alternative Avenues
• Jim Wuelfing Award for Prevention: Claire Spada, Director of Workforce Development, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
• Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence: Stacy Shaw, Vice President of Product & Program Marketing, Oregon Lottery
• Don Hulen Award for Advocacy & Awareness: Megan Poliquin, LPCC-S, LICDC-GAMB, Zepf Center3
• Dr. Durand Jacobs Dissertation Award: Dr. Jackie Stanmyre, Rutgers University for Gambling Studies
• Denise Phillips Community Outreach and Multicultural Wellness Award: Shandra Parks, PhD, LMSW, CFSW, CCGSO, Maryland Council on Problem Gambling
• Media Award: The Ohio Newsroom for their story on the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network, reported by Erin Gottsacker
• Affiliate Public Awareness Award: The Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
• Corporate Public Awareness Award: Oregon Lottery for their “Safer Play” PSA Campaign
• Affiliate Multicultural Communications Award: Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling for “It Takes Community to Overcome Problem Gambling”
• Corporate Multicultural Communications Award: Oregon Lottery for “Multi-cultural Digital/Print Media Marketing Campaign”
• Affiliate Awareness Campaign Impact Award: The Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling for the “ECPG Gift Responsibly Winter Campaign”
• Corporate Awareness Campaign Impact Award: The Virginia Lottery for “Scratchers for Kids? Scratch That Idea”
• Affiliate People’s Choice Award: Illinois Council on Problem Gambling for “Are You Really Winning?”
• Corporate People’s Choice Award: Ohio for Responsible Gambling for their “More Than A Bet” Campaign
NCPG has congratulated this year’s award recipients and thanked them for their dedication to advancing prevention, treatment, research, recovery, and responsible gambling.
Betsson Group has won in two categories at the SBC Awards Americas 2025.
On Wednesday, 14 May 2025, during the SBC Awards Americas ceremony in Miami, Florida, Betsson was announced as the Gold Winner in the Marketing & Sponsorship Campaign of the Year category for its engaging Road to the Final – Atlético Nacional campaign. This initiative showcased Betsson’s commitment to impactful marketing strategies and its strong presence in Colombian football sponsorships.
In addition, Betsson Group was honoured with the Silver Award for Casino Operator of the Year: Latin America, reflecting its excellence in delivering top-tier casino experiences across the region.
It was an exciting week in Miami for Betsson, as the company also supported the SBC Summit Americas, where Andrea Rossi, Commercial Director for Latin America, and Cristhian Gomez, Managing Director for Emerging Markets, shared their insights on market trends and strategic growth during several panel discussions.
With these awards, Betsson Group further solidified its position as a leading force in the global iGaming landscape.
Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer known for its innovative approach to iGaming content, has been awarded Industry Innovation of the Year (North America) at SBC Awards Americas 2025.
The award recognises the company’s consistent efforts to develop solutions tailored to the specific demands of the North American market, combining latest technology with an understanding of local player preferences.
For years, Wazdan has delivered products that not only meet regulatory requirements but, above all, respond to user expectations in terms of gameplay, personalisation, and high-quality entertainment.
Wazdan continues to expand its presence across North America, forming strategic partnerships with leading operators and tailoring its titles to meet the regulatory requirements of individual jurisdictions. The company’s growth in the region is driven by locally focused innovation and a long-term collaborative strategy.
Attendees of SBC Summit Americas 2025 are invited to meet the Wazdan team who are situated at Stand D650, ready to showcase its latest solutions and award-winning products.
Izabela Słodkowska-Popiel, Head of Account Management for North and Latin America, said: “Innovation is not a one-off initiative, it’s a mindset that guides us at every stage of product design and delivery. Receiving the Industry Innovation of the Year award confirms that our focus on technological solutions and user-driven design is a proven formula.
“This recognition marks another important step in Wazdan’s growth and highlights the company’s strong and ever-expanding presence in one of the most dynamic iGaming markets.”
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