EPIC's NCAA Partnership and Responsible Gambling Initiatives

Matt

Alright, let’s dive into the big headline this week—the NCAA contract announcement. Honestly, Adrian, this feels like such a pivotal moment, doesn’t it?

Adrian

Absolutely. This partnership is critical, not just for our Q1 communications objectives, but for reinforcing our position in the U.S. market, particularly during Problem Gambling Awareness Month. By extending the NCAA contract right now, we're setting the tone for everything that follows this month.

Matt

It’s huge. I mean, PGAM is a prime opportunity to spotlight our work in responsible gambling education, and starting with this announcement? It’s like planting a flag!

Adrian

Exactly. Plus, this partnership lets us connect with such a broad audience—student-athletes, their families, and even the NCAA’s vast network of supporters. It’s about creating awareness that educating and adopting a prevention strategy is paramount.

Matt

Yeah, yeah, and it’s not just about awareness, right? I mean, the strategies we’re rolling out with this are very important in us hammering home some key themes. Getting this integrated into PGAM messaging gives us that kickstart we need.

Adrian

That’s the beauty of it. We’re leveraging this partnership to not only amplify gambling harm education discussions but to also set the pace for the rest of the month’s initiatives. And let’s not underestimate the momentum this will generate in the media. We’re anticipating some substantial coverage that’ll magnify our reach.

Matt

Speaking of media, the coverage itself becomes part of the strategy, doesn’t it? Like, the NCAA announcement is just the spark, but the real power is in how it propels every other initiative we’ve lined up for PGAM.

Adrian

Exactly. It’s—well—it’s like building a foundation. This partnership creates the structure upon which we can layer the other campaigns.

Matt

So building on that momentum from the NCAA partnership, let’s dive into those other major initiatives kicking off PGAM. The ‘Seeking Understanding’ video series—Adrian, how big a deal is this one for us?

Adrian

It’s a very significant move. The series doesn’t just communicate our commitment to responsible gambling; it also aims to create empathy and connection through the power of human voices, which aligns with our values of authenticity and putting Lived Experience at the heart of what we do. By focusing on real stories and diverse perspectives, we’re elevating the conversation to a completely new level. Plus, we’re intentionally targeting audiences that have perhaps been overlooked in traditional campaigns. To give equity and representation to those voices.

Matt

Stories make the difference, don’t they? I mean, people relate to narratives, not just stats. What’s the rollout looking like?

Adrian

We’re focusing on building organic traction to start—releasing the series across our owned channels first, then amplifying through strategic partnerships and hopefully some media collaborations if we get a few bites. The idea is to get targeted engagement before scaling up to wider outreach.

Matt

Smart. That kinda grassroots approach is exactly what builds momentum. Speaking of building, the Rhode Island Leadership Challenge seemed like it had layers. What’s your take?

Adrian

Oh, absolutely. Bally’s Rhode Island Challenge has been critical in driving leadership development aligned with responsible gambling principles. With the live updates we’ve been pushing, it’s clear this event is more than just a one-off; it’s a template. We’re gathering insights here that could shape similar initiatives across other partnership activations moving forward.

Matt

A blueprint, huh? I love that. So we take what worked, finesse it, and replicate it. And we’re building a case study, right?

Adrian

Exactly. The case study will be a key asset, not just for internal learnings but for external positioning as well. It’ll showcase how we’re not just talking about leadership and responsibility but actively fostering it on the ground in tandem with a big operator. That gives us credibility in consultancy, and a framework others can adapt in their own contexts.

Matt

Yeah, yeah. And, honestly, the ripple effects from that? Could be huge for our approach to pushing our services.

Adrian

Absolutely. It’s initiatives like these that reinforce our position as thought leaders, while simultaneously driving tangible impact and something I'd hope our friends in commercial can leverage in their own approaches moving forward.

Matt

And this is only just the start. The lessons coming out of these efforts, combined with the video series—it’s all interconnected, pushing us forward in such a compelling way.

Matt

And speaking of interconnected efforts, media engagement—it’s such a fundamental piece of what we’re doing in team comms, don’t you think?

Adrian

Absolutely, and let’s not underestimate the traction we’ve already garnered. The PrizePicks RG report has sparked some really meaningful conversations in the industry, and having a feature in iNTERGAMINGi Magazine adds another layer of credibility to our messaging by being featured in a target media publication. Our bread and butter really but has real importance.

Matt

Totally agree. I mean, just getting that kind of visibility is huge. But—uh—what about MLB? I know there’s been some hiccups with the Sports Business Journal coverage through no real fault of our own. Any updates there?

Adrian

Well, we’re still navigating that challenge, but Meg has been excellent in following up with MLB to ensure we’re aligned. These things can take time, but the important part is maintaining proactive outreach. And let’s not forget, Dan Spencer’s podcast appearance next week; that’s poised to add another layer to our media strategy execution, reinforcing EPIC’s expertise.

Matt

You’re right, for sure. It’s all interconnected, isn’t it? Each opportunity feeds into the next, and it makes our presence that much more cohesive.

Adrian

Exactly. And that’s why internal transitions are so critical to get right. Carla’s move to marketing, while significant, has been smoothed out by a solid handover plan. Charlotte stepping in for the EPIC Catch-Ups in the interim to ensures continuity, and that consistency is what strengthens our backbone—both externally and internally. From there Carla has set out a set of recommendations and advisory that the whole business has a role to play in. Important we make that point, that we have to share some of these responsibilities moving forward.

Matt

Consistency is key, yeah. And it’s kinda nice seeing marketing and comms sync up more fluidly. Makes everything...what’s the word...just seamless.

Adrian

That’s the goal, Matt. Seamless integration means we’re working smarter, not harder. Streamlined workflows not only keep us aligned on messaging but also ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Lessons learned from past transitions have been invaluable in shaping this process.

Matt

Couldn’t agree more. And look, all of this—our media strategy, the transitions, even the nitty-gritty workflow stuff—paints a bigger picture. It’s all about driving EPIC forward, step by step.

Adrian

Precisely. Each of these elements complements the others, creating a multifaceted approach to communication. Building relationships, crafting impactful content, and maintaining operational consistency is what we're tasked to do.

Matt

And that’s a wrap for today, huh? So much going on, but it’s exciting to see how it all comes together. On that note, we’ll see you next time. Have a great week!