Martin Lycka will host a live edition of The Safe Bet Show at the upcoming SBC Summit 2025, set to take place in a month. In a special highlight, Lycka will be joined by former football star Dominic Matteo to discuss safer gambling practices.

Matteo, a former Liverpool and Leeds United defender with 155 appearances for Liverpool between 1992 and 2000, has become a passionate advocate for responsible gambling since retiring from professional soccer in 2009. His journey is marked by personal struggles with gambling addiction, including placing a £500,000 bet and accumulating a £1 million debt at his lowest point. His recovery, supported significantly by his wife—who is also involved in gambling awareness initiatives—has propelled him into advocacy work.

Lycka expressed enthusiasm about having Matteo on the show, emphasizing the importance of sharing human stories to promote player protection:

“Dominic’s journey is one of incredible resilience. His willingness to speak openly about his struggles and his educational work with athletes is deeply impactful. Having him and Jess join me for this live edition of The Safe Bet Show brings an essential human perspective to the wider conversation on player protection. I’m honoured to share the stage with them in Lisbon.”

Matteo’s work with EPIC Solutions, where his wife and Jess serve as Lived Experience Facilitators, highlights firsthand accounts of gambling addiction and emphasizes the need for awareness, especially among professional athletes who may be vulnerable. His story, including his diagnosis with a dormant childhood brain tumor in 2019, underscores the complex adversities faced by those battling gambling problems.