Gers get a gambling education

Club holds pioneering advice sessions

RANGERS is the first Scots football club to run gambling education sessions for players.

The men’s first team, women’s team and selected academy squads took part in separate sessions of the pioneering programme.

Funding comes from the Ibrox club’s sponsor Kindred, whose brands include 32Red and Unibet.

Rangers keeper Jack Butland took part in the first sessions with his colleagues.

He said: “Any sort of addiction can dramatically affect your life, your family’s life and, ultimately, your career as well.

“Gambling is a serious addiction and people have seen how bad it can get from a mental health perspective. It is so important the club is taking this and offering this support.”

The sessions have been designed for top-level sports men and women and are carried out by EPIC Global Solutions – a leading gambling harm-minimisation consultancy.

EPIC draws on lived experience and the sessions at Rangers were led by ex-Wales striker Simon Haworth.

Carolanne Gay, academy education executive at Rangers, said: “It is important to all at the club to take the lead on this. “We’re grateful to Kindred and EPIC for their support and guidance, and we hope that the sessions will be of great benefit.” Kindred has dedicated its front-ofseriously shirt sponsorship this season to its “Zero per cent Mission” – its stated aim to remove revenue stemming from gambling.