Two founders. Two lived-experience perspectives. Decades of commercial, operational and industry expertise.
18 yearscombined gambling industry experience
25 yearsadditional cross-sector commercial and customer-facing experience
2 founderswith lived experience of gambling-related harm
Acta Veritas Consultancy combines first-hand understanding of gambling-related harm with industry, operational and commercial expertise. Dave Sproson brings experience from head-of-department roles at a global gaming operator and a specialist player protection consultancy. Craig Cornforth brings 25 years across retail, motor and insurance, alongside five years working with gambling operators, lotteries and industry stakeholders. Together, we have designed, delivered and advised on hundreds of hours of training, workshops and consultancy — from customer service and player protection teams through to senior executives and CEOs.
We understand both sides of the conversation — the realities organisations face and the human impact of the decisions they make.
Advisory
Independent expertise to challenge assumptions, strengthen policies and improve operational decisions.
Training & Development
Experience-led learning that builds confidence, sharpens judgement and strengthens customer interactions.
Advanced Validation & Insight
Independent reviews that identify what’s working, what isn’t and where improvements can be made.
Bespoke Support
Focused support designed around your organisation’s people, priorities and challenges.
Our purpose
Why we do what we do
We believe lived experience has the greatest impact when it is used constructively — alongside professional expertise, genuine partnership and a shared ambition to improve outcomes.
“I’ve spent my career working with customers and businesses, and my lived experience has given me a different perspective on the decisions organisations make. At AVC, I want to use that experience positively — connecting commercial realities with the human impact of gambling harm, and helping teams make practical improvements that benefit everyone.”
“I’ve experienced the gambling industry from both sides — leading teams within a global operator and working with organisations as a consultant. Combined with my own lived experience, I understand the difference between having the right policies and making them work in practice. We want to use that experience constructively, recognise what works well and help organisations make player protection even stronger.”
Dave SprosonCo-Founder, Acta Veritas Consultancy
Our services
What we offer
Four services, one practical approach.
We combine lived experience with operator-side leadership, commercial insight and independent challenge. Our four services are designed to translate that perspective into stronger decisions, more confident teams and practical improvements you can use.
01
Advisory
Independent, practical advice across player protection strategy, policy, governance, customer handling and operational decision-making. We challenge assumptions, look beyond what the process says on paper and help define proportionate, achievable improvements.
02
Training & Development
Experience-led workshops, briefings and development programmes for frontline teams, managers, department heads and senior leaders. We connect the human impact of gambling harm with real operational decisions, building judgement, confidence and skills that transfer into everyday customer interactions.
03
Advanced Validation & Insight
Independent review of customer interactions, policies, processes, quality assurance, product journeys and AI-supported outputs. We examine how good intentions translate into practice, identify strengths and gaps, and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
04
Bespoke Support
From focused consultancy and facilitated workshops to executive briefings, speaking engagements and defined projects, we shape support around your people, priorities and challenges — without forcing a standard programme onto a specific problem.
Industry panel discussion — Craig Cornforth and Dave Sproson at the Canadian Gaming Summit Player Protection Symposium, June 2024.
Our training combines first-hand lived experience of gambling harm with the operational perspective gained from working inside gambling businesses and supporting industry teams. We build practical judgement, confident conversations and stronger player protection capability — from frontline customer interactions to departmental leadership and executive briefings. Sessions are available as focused workshops or tailored programmes.
Important: Sessions can be tailored or fully bespoke to your needs.
Illustrative programme areas
Customer Interactions
Suicide Awareness & Resilience
Safer Gambling & Player Protection
Leadership & Executive Briefings
Affordability & Vulnerability
Workshops, speaking & lived-experience sessions
VIP & High-Value Relationships
Digital refreshers and blended support
Illustrative delivery from frontline teams to senior leadership and CEO level.
Player Protection Training — Senior Team Leaders. Craig Cornforth delivering training for RG, Customer Service and other player protection functions.
How we help in practice
Selected examples of prior career work
Our credentials come from work undertaken before AVC was founded: department-level leadership within gambling operations and specialist consultancy, decades of customer-facing commercial experience, and lived-experience contributions to training, review and industry conversations. Together, we have designed, delivered and supported hundreds of hours of sessions and consultancy, from frontline teams to CEOs.
Examples of work we have designed, delivered or supported
Frontline customer interaction training and coaching
Leadership and executive sessions
Lived-experience speaking and stakeholder workshops
Digital learning and blended programme support
Independent review of customer interactions and QA themes
Policy, process and product-safety challenge
How we typically work
Start with the challenge you are trying to solve
Define the right level of support, from a single session to a focused project
Keep delivery practical, credible and proportionate
Provide clear outputs, actionable feedback and straightforward challenge
Dave Sproson | BBC News Sharing lived-experience perspectives on gambling-related harm through a national media interview.Craig Cornforth | iGaming Daily With Neosurf CEO Andrea McGeachin discussing gambling addiction, recovery and lived experience in player protection. January 2025.
AVC works best with organisations that value practical delivery, credible challenge and straightforward partnership.
Founded by Craig Cornforth and Dave Sproson.
Independent perspectives
What colleagues say about our experience
Recommendations reflecting Craig and Dave’s professional work before establishing AVC.
On Craig’s work
“His level of knowledge and his own unique experience makes him a fantastic professional to work with.”
Tom BanksFormer Head of External Relations, FDJ United
“His ability to combine deep knowledge with humility, authenticity, and practical real-world experience is a rare strength.”
Mark RobinsonLeadership and organisational transformation specialist
On Dave’s work
“Dave brings an excellent understanding of the practical challenges facing gambling operators. His combination of operational expertise and lived experience enables him to engage teams at every level and turn complex player protection challenges into meaningful, practical action.”
Sam DouglasDirector of Safer Gambling, Hippodrome Casino
“Dave combines deep industry knowledge with an authentic understanding of gambling-related harm. His ability to connect lived experience with operational realities brings a valuable perspective to player protection and the development of effective, responsible gambling practices.”
Christina TheophilosHead of Responsible Gaming Strategy, Superbet
Contact | Acta Veritas Consultancy
Experience into action.
Whether you want to strengthen your team’s capability, gain an independent perspective or explore a specific challenge, we’d welcome a conversation.