This year we are proud to launch our new campaign ‘Gambling Harm Ahead’ during Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2023.

Using insights from lived experience, ‘Gambling Harm Ahead’ was developed to highlight the early signs of gambling harm. Inspired by road sign iconography and stylised in bright neon colours usually associated with gambling venues, the key messages of chasing losses, borrowing to bet, gambling alone and financial stress aim to attract the audience’s attention, educate people on identifying the signs of gambling harm early and remind them that help is nearby if needed.

‘Gambling Harm Ahead’ is a digital and radio campaign that will have a strong presence on digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube as well as metro and regional radio.

Gambling Help Services are encouraged to promote ‘Gambling Harm Ahead’ during the week via a number of available resources on the newly created ‘GHAW Resources Hub’.

Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2023 runs from 16 October to 22 October 2023.

‘Gambling Harm Ahead’ will continue after Gambling Harm Awareness Week to maintain interest and awareness and will conclude on 4 November 2023.

The campaign will be formally launched by the Minister for Human Services, the Hon. Nat Cook MP during GHAW 2023.

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BetStop is the National Self-Exclusion Register created by the Australian Government. The initiative is a safe and free way to block yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone gambling providers.

Signing up is fast and easy and it only takes about 5 minutes.

To get started, all you need is:

• Your mobile phone
• Access to your email inbox
• Either a Medicare Card or a Driver's Licence from an Australian State or Territory.

While you are registered to BetStop, Australian licensed online and phone wagering providers should not:

• open a wagering account for you
• allow you to place bets, or
• send you marketing material.

You can also nominate someone you know to support you while you are self-excluded.

If you want to sign up to BetStop or to learn more about the program, visit www.betstop.gov.au

The Office For Problem Gambling (OPG) has released its first Progress Evaluation Report under the Gambling Harm Minimisation Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The Progress Evaluation draws from multiple data sources to establish baseline data against which OPG will measure progress towards its investment goals.

The Progress Evaluation shows that action is needed across each of the strategic investment areas identified by the Gambling Harm Minimisation Investment Plan 2021 to 2026. For example, it finds that:

• South Australians recognise gambling can be harmful but do not always take steps to stay safe. Most South Australians hold stigmatised views about people experiencing gambling harm and have limited motivation to intervene.
• Prevention and early intervention is a new area of investment and therefore limited data was available to inform the Report. OPG is progressively implementing new data collection measures informed by the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
• Gambling help service clients benefit from the treatment they receive, however service drop out is high. There is low awareness of help services in the community.
• Most stakeholders describe strong working relationships with OPG. Stakeholders would like regular updates on gambling harm minimisation activities and impact, and support improving data collection processes

OPG is progressively implementing a number of key projects expected to improve South Australia’s gambling harm minimisation efforts that speak directly to the challenges and gaps identified by the Progress Evaluation. These include delivering a mainstream communications campaign to educate the community about gambling harm, expanding its Here For The Game initiative to include amateur sport clubs, engaging people with lived experience in the design of new resources for loved ones experiencing gambling harm, and working with community sector and industry partners to break down barriers to help seeking.

Planning will soon commence for a mid-point (covering 2022-23 and 2023-24) and final evaluation (covering the life of the Investment Plan).

The Office For Problem Gambling is pleased to announce three successful applicants to the 2023 Strategic Research Agenda funding round.

• 3Arc Social will analyse Reddit data to explore how people talk about gambling journeys in public, online environments. The research has a particular focus on the protective factors involved in relapse and recovery.
• The South Australian Council of Social Services will conduct a systematic scoping review to examine whether building young people’s digital literacy serves as a protective factor against gambling harm as young adults (18-24).
• Flinders University will examine the extent to which AI chatbots can be effective in increasing South Australian gamblers awareness of risky gambling behaviours and help overcome barriers for help seeking.

The authors are due to submit final reports in 2024. The reports should provide timely, practical advice for government, local communities, public and private sectors to help achieve reductions in gambling harm. Plain English copies will be published online wherever possible.

The 2024 Strategic Research Agenda funding round is expected to open in early 2024.

Register your interest now!

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After months of development and testing between all states and territories, we are proud to announce that the new Gambling Help Online website is now live.

The services provided complement and increase the range of services available across Australia and provides clients with another avenue to access free and confidential help and support.

The new Gambling Help Online website provides:

• online chat with a qualified gambling counsellor 24hours a day, 7 days a week (users can remain anonymous or register for a more targeted service)
• moderated peer forums
• an SMS support service
• educational material, self-help modules and self-assessments tool for people looking for ways to help themselves or increase their understanding of gambling and the harm it can cause
• in language support for CALD communities with translated pages and integrated Google Translate
• refreshed design that is easily to navigate

In addition to providing brief intervention, Gambling Help Online counsellors can also provide people with education materials, support to access peer forums and referrals to local services. Gambling Help online is for anyone affected by gambling, including friends and family, and professionals seeking advice on how to help their clients.

Gambling Help Online is backed by extensive research and expert advice and support is available to anyone seeking more information about gambling harm.

Visit: https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au

The Adelaide Crows join Here For The Game

The Adelaide Football Club has joined DHS’s Here For The Game campaign, which challenges the normalisation of gambling in sport.

The Here For The Game campaign forms part of a broader prevention initiative to raise awareness of gambling harm and educate the community about the risks attached to sports betting.

The Crows join a chorus of other elite sporting clubs including Adelaide United, the Adelaide 36ers and the Adelaide Giants, in supporting the principle ‘we’re here for the game, not the gambling’.

Raising awareness through advertising

The latest advertising campaign featuring the Adelaide Crows challenges the convergence of sport and gambling, promoting ways South Australians can help keep themselves safe from gambling harm. Here For The Game also seeks to create opportunities for parents to have conversations with their children about this topic, and provide helpful resources for anyone concerned about this issue.

This AFL season, commuters going to Crows’ home games can look forward to seeing footy heroes Riley Thilthorpe and Anne Hatchard on tram advertising and at train and bus stations promoting the positive aspects of sport, such as the atmosphere and memories it creates, rather than gambling during sporting events. As part of the partnership with the Adelaide Crows there will also be on-ground, television, outdoor, online and social media ads featuring Riley and Anne to help spread the message among footy fans and the wider South Australian community that you don’t have to gamble to enjoy footy.

Role models spread the message

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the Club was pleased to help remind people of the enjoyment football and all sport provides, without the need for betting to enhance that.

“As an elite sporting club we know that we have a responsibility towards our fans, especially kids, to promote positive behaviours and attitudes,” Silvers said. “Joining the Here For The Game campaign is a great fit with that responsibility and it gives us another platform to be role models for youngsters. We would love for our fans and members to be at our games because they enjoy the atmosphere and the quality of athleticism and being part of the action, not because they feel a need to place bets on every kick.”

No sports betting ads at Adelaide Oval

The Office for Problem Gambling (OPG) believes the Crows’ backing will considerably boost the positive Here For The Game messaging and have a far-reaching impact on young people and kids.

According to Rory Spreckley, Manager of the OPG, one would be able to fill Adelaide Oval twice with the number of South Australian gamblers experiencing gambling harm in SA. “This is why it’s quite significant that there will be no sports betting advertisements shown at Adelaide oval during any of the Crows’ home games – something that hasn’t happened in a very long time,” he says.

He points out that today’s young people don’t know a world without gambling advertising at saturation levels. “It’s something we and many other South Australians are concerned about.”

Have the conversation with your children

After reaching an audience of over 9 million in the first year of the Here For The Game campaign, the OPG is confident the Crows can build on this early success and deliver its positive and important message to more South Australians.

Research shows adults are concerned about the amount of sports betting advertising children are exposed to and most adults want to talk to their kids about the risks of betting on sports. However, very few parents feel informed enough to have the conversation.

“The website hereforthegame.com.au has tips on how to start the conversation, interesting stats and facts about risky betting,” says Rory.  “If you head on over there, you might even bump into a Crows player or two.”

For more information about Here For The Game visit: Here for the game.

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DHS is proud to announce it has partnered with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to pilot an accreditation program for amateur sports club.

The program will be modelled on the highly successful Good Sports program and provides an opportunity for local clubs to educate members about the risks of gambling harm and develop gambling harm minimisation policies and strategies.

Clubs will also have the opportunity to work with Here For The Game ambassadors and share in promotional and merchandising opportunities.

More information will be released shortly.

To learn more about the great work the program delivers, visit Good Sports

Gambling Harm Awareness Week is Here For The Game in 2022!

Running from Sunday 27 November until 4 December, the week offers an opportunity to focus on the initiatives the Office for Problem Gambling is taking to minimise gambling harm in our community while educating people on how to keep themselves safe from gambling harm.

The Office for Problem Gambling will announce a number of partnerships and initiatives across the week culminating in the announcement of two new Here For The Game partners on Friday 2 December.

Make sure you keep an eye out on the OPG website and DHS Facebook and Instagram over the week to catch all the important announcement

Here For The Game is growing in 2022 with the State Government announcing partnerships with two new prominent professional sporting clubs, the Adelaide 36ers and Adelaide Giants.

Joining existing inaugural partner, Adelaide United, the 36ers and the Giants have listened to their fans and turned their back on lucrative sports betting partnerships to be part of something more important to their community.

Sports betting is growing in popularity in South Australia, particularly amongst young men. Young people are being influenced by family, friends, and beliefs that betting is the norm and an easy way to make money. In addition, the over saturation of gambling advertising and ease of accessibility through new technology is creating a generation who think sport and gambling are one and the same.

This is why Here For The Game is such an important message. It reminds us of the real reasons we love sport: the atmosphere, the memories, the loyalty and so much more.

Fans who attend home games of either the Reds, 36ers or Giants will start to see and hear the campaign for the remainder of the 2022/23 season. Here For The Game will also be on radio, catch up tv, online, social media and more starting from 2 December.

For more information or to view the campaign videos, download resources or learn ways to talk about gambling, visit www.hereforthegame.com.au

We are proud to announce our Strategic Research Agenda 2022 to 2026.

The Strategic Research Agenda encourages researchers to get involved in our efforts by providing funding for small research projects exploring ways to prevent and minimise gambling harm in South Australia.

Funded projects are expected to provide timely, practical advice for government, local communities, public and private sectors to help achieve reductions in gambling harm.

Further information regarding funding for research projects will be released in early 2023.

Registrations of interests are now being collected and interested parties will be notified when more information is available.

To read more, visit Research Opportunities

We are proud to announce our Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF).

In November 2021, we released the Minimising Gambling Harm: Investment Plan 2021–26 as a strategic response to gambling harm in South Australia. Detailed in that plan was a commitment to implement six key projects in the coming years.

OPG engaged the University of Adelaide to develop a framework to ensure implementation and impact of the six key projects we outlined in our Investment Plan 2021-2026 can be measured effectively. As subsequent projects are rolled out, they too can be mapped onto the MEF.

To read more, visit the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

The Office for Problem Gambling is proud to launch our website. For almost 12 months, we have been working hard to create a new website that suits the needs of community who are either affected by gambling or just want to learn more about the issue.

Along with a new look, the new OPG website includes features that we hope will make visiting the site easier to navigate and will provide a more interactive experience for users.

Report prepared by the Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory CQ University for the Office for Problem Gambling, Department of Human Services. Adelaide, South Australia

Researchers from CQ University surveyed 2,030 South Australian adults about their attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards sports betting. The researchers were particularly concerned with the extent to which sports betting is perceived to be ‘normal’ in South Australia, and how the normalisation of sports betting affects young people. This is because adults who develop gambling problems are often exposed to risky gambling attitudes and behaviours as children and are likely to have participated in risky gambling as adolescents.

‘Normalisation’ occurs when environmental factors (e.g., advertising showing betting as a socially desirable activity or linked to culturally important events, sports betting is highly accessible) influences community beliefs and attitudes which in turn affect behaviours.

Environmental factors – media as a tool for normalisation

Most South Australians perceive sports betting to be highly accessible and believe that sports betting advertising encourages people who enjoy sport to start gambling.

The survey also revealed overwhelmingly negative sentiment toward the advertising and promotion of sports betting across the community. South Australians are concerned by how much sports betting advertising children are exposed to (78%), believe advertising makes children think betting on sport is normal (84%), and encourages children to want to gamble (76%).

Beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours

Most survey respondents agreed that occasional sports betting is harmless (73%), although casual sports betting can lead to problems if you are not careful (86%). The majority of respondents believe that there is too much sports betting today (78%) and estimated that 46% of adults bet on sports regularly. This is a gross over-estimate however as the South Australian Gambling Prevalence Survey suggests around 7% of South Australians have bet on sports in the last 12 months.

Sports bettors who responded to the survey often held risky beliefs about their skills and abilities when betting. More than half of South Australian sports betters consider betting on sport to be safer than other forms of gambling as it relies less on luck (58%), that betting enhances the enjoyment of watching sport (57%), and that winning a bet is the product of their skill and knowledge of sports (56%). Perhaps most concerningly, young people, couples with children and those with higher levels of education were more likely to hold these types of risky beliefs.

While most South Australians believe it is not healthy for children to see their parents betting on sport (78%), caregivers who were sports bettors appeared largely ambivalent about the importance of avoiding conversations about their betting activity or participating in sports betting when children were present.

Social influences from family and friends are key drivers of gambling behaviours and gambling problems among both adolescents and adults and can contribute to the normalisation of gambling. These influences begin for children and adolescents via parental modelling, parental supervision and parental values, attitudes and beliefs. Exposure to problem gambling as a child and adolescent also increases an individual’s risk of becoming an adult problem gambler. It is important, therefore, that caregivers consider the impact of exposing children to sports betting.

Normalisation of sports betting in South Australia

In addition to capturing community attitudes and beliefs, the researchers measured the extent to which sports betting is perceived to be normalised in South Australia. Normalisation was defined as the extent to which people believe those around them endorse and participate in sports betting and perceive betting to be a necessary part of sport.

On a scale of 0 to 100 (where 100 suggests sports betting is wholly normalised across the population), South Australians scored 45. The researchers found that age was an important factor in understanding people’s perceptions, with younger participants, and particularly those with higher incomes, being much more likely to perceive sports betting as normalised in the community.

While this score is not discouraging, it suggests there is a need to disrupt the normalisation of sports betting. This is particularly true if we want to avoid those outcomes associated with the normalisation of other risky behaviours such as smoking. Public health approaches point to the importance of raising awareness and community education about the risks associated with sports betting, participating in protective behaviours (e.g., setting limits, not betting when upset, stopping if not having fun, preventing children’s exposure), and initiatives that challenge the erroneous beliefs and attitudes that underpin risky sports betting behaviours.

Taking action to disrupt the normalisation of sports betting

Most South Australians support tighter regulation of sports betting advertising. For example, 71% want to see less gambling advertising at sporting events, 77% believe that the government should take measures to reduce the amount of sports betting advertising, and 81% believe that sports betting needs to be more tightly regulated or restricted.

Most adults (92%) believe it is important to speak to children about the risks involved in sports betting, but only one in five adults (20%) have done so and just over one third (37%) feel informed enough to have these conversations. The majority of survey respondents (80%) reported they had never seen any messaging about keeping children safe around sports betting.

Conclusion

The survey shows that that South Australians recognise the potential risks around sports betting, have strong negative attitudes towards gambling advertising, and generally agree that it is important for young people to understand the risks. However, many South Australians also believe that gambling on sport is a part of the Australian culture that is never going to change, and some did not understand why it is important to keep children and adolescents at arms-length from sports betting. South Australians support government action to regulate sports betting advertising, are willing to speak to those in their social networks about the risks involved in sports betting, and want to learn more about ways to keep children safe.

The South Australian Government has responded by implementing the Here For The Game initiative to disrupt the normalisation of betting in sport and educate the community about risky betting and how to keep themselves safe. You can learn more at: hereforthegame.com.au

* Researchers - Browne, M., Bryden, G.M., Russell, A.M.T., Rockloff, M., Hing, N., Dittman, C., & Lastella, M.

We are proud to announce our Investment Plan 2021 to 2026.

The Investment Plan 2021 to 2026 guides government spending of the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund and informs the use of regulatory and policy levers in the prevention and minimisation of gambling harm in South Australia.

The Investment Plan 2021 to 2026 was developed in consultation with people who have experienced gambling harm, professionals, the regulator and industry. It describes clear goals for future investment, prioritises strategic areas of focus, and identifies evidence-based, practice informed opportunities to minimise gambling harm.

To read, visit Investment Plan 2021 to 2026

A media statement from the Minister for Human Services, the Hon Michelle Lensink MLC

A new “United” campaign tackling sports gambling

A rise in South Australians engaging in risky sports gambling has resulted in a state-first partnership between the Marshall Liberal Government and Adelaide United Football Club which is reminding fans the real reasons they love sport.

Launched in time for United’s first home game of the season, the new Here For The Game campaign will be rolled out on TV, radio, online, social media and on-ground, outdoor advertising reinforcing the positive aspects of sport outside of gambling.

It comes following a bold decision by Adelaide United to turn down popular sports betting partnerships and instead, partner with the State Government to tackle the rising issue.

The Marshall Liberal Government has committed $328,000 to the campaign as part of a three-year partnership with the Club.

The Reds’ three player ambassadors, women’s forward Chelsie Dawber, men’s Captain Stefan Mauk, and men’s rising star Mohamed Toure star in the campaign and will aid in spreading the key messaging.

The ads feature strong imagery and messaging including “Here for the memories, not early bet payouts”, “Here for the fans, not odds on favourites” and “Here for my heroes, not for my multi.”

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the Here For The Game campaign will challenge the normalisation of sports betting.

“Sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in South Australian and this is a huge concern, particularly among our young people,” said Minister Lensink.

“The Marshall Liberal Government is proud to partner with Adelaide United as we work together to raise awareness and educate South Australians about the risks attached to sports betting and ways to keep safe.

“Here For The Game has a focus on reaching young men, who are more likely to bet on sport and parents, who are the biggest influence on their children and their attitudes towards gambling.

“The research clearly shows we needed to tackle this issue from a young age and from the ground up, and that’s why using sports idols and fans to convey this message will be really powerful and hopefully make people think twice before they place a bet.”

Adelaide United Chief Executive Officer Nathan Kosmina said the Club’s involvement is driven by a desire to put community well-being ahead of accepting sports betting partnerships. “We want our supporters and community to focus on the positive involvement that football can have on their lives,” said Mr Kosmina.

“We know that the attitudes of young people towards gambling are heavily influenced by the sporting brands they engage with. "Our obligation in this regard is to foster a love of the game first and foremost and to highlight the negative impact sports gambling can have.”

South Australians have good reason to be concerned about the growth in sports betting advertising and behaviours, with the latest DHS commissioned Gambling Attitudes Survey finding:

• Sports betting is the only gambling activity in which participation has steadily increased since 2005
• 78 per cent of respondents are concerned by how much sports betting advertising children are exposed to
• 83 per cent agree that betting advertising makes children think that gambling on sport is normal.
• 32 per cent of SA sports bettors gamble at risky levels compared to 27 per cent of poker machine players;
• SA losses on sports betting have multiplied over three-fold to $8.25 million from 2005 to 2019;
• Three quarters of 8 to 16-year-olds survey could name at least one sports betting company

The State Government has also contributed an additional $1 million a year into the Gamblers’ Rehabilitation Fund (GRF).

To coincide with SA Gambling Harm Awareness Week, the State Government has launched a new Minimising Gambling Harm in SA - Investment Plan 2021-26, which sets a clear vision for minimising gambling harm.

For more information about Here For The Game, plus resources including a guide on how to talk to children about gambling, visit the website at www.hereforthegame.com.au.

Media Contact: Katrina Stokes 0481 903 371

Winning at the annual AFL tipping competition is a lot of fun at work or the pub, but does that translate to a financially viable option in online sports betting sphere?

Not necessarily, and it may even lead winning tipsters towards a pathway to problem gambling, warns Dr Ben Riley, a gambling therapy expert at Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health and South Australia’s Statewide Gambling Therapy Service.

In the first published study of AFL tipster predictions, published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, researchers test the idea that tipping talent – or ability to pick winners for home game fixtures, player fitness, etc – may translate to an ability to gain money from AFL betting.

The question is worth testing, researchers say, with Australian Rules Football (AFL) the most popular sport in Australia, the heavy presence of gambling advertising during broadcasts and AFL commentators often promoting their tips and betting suggestions to thousands of potential punters.

Online gambling and advertising is on the rise in Australia, with total gambling expenditure (losses) almost $25 billion in 2019 and expected to rise with the convenience of mobile electronic devices and online sports betting.

Irrational beliefs, such as the ability to control the outcome of the game, have long been considered an important factor in why some gamblers continue to play despite repeated losses.

“We compared expert AFL tipsters against a random number generator across 6 years of AFL games – around 1200 games and 4500 individual $2 ‘mock’ wagers using the closing betting odds for each game,” says Dr Riley, who worked with psychiatrists on the latest research.

While the experts did predict more correct games than random picks, their equivalent monetary outcomes correlated equal to random picks on sports betting sites.

“However, when looking only at the wins, the random picks had a greater monetary gain on average than the tipping experts. Essentially, knowledge about AFL will not help you win money betting.

“We argue that by using their knowledge, AFL punters may pick more correct games than chance and this keeps them gambling – despite losing money over the long term. Being right is incredibly reinforcing, particularly for adolescents.

“Essentially, making correct AFL selections, and winning money are not the same thing – a distinction that many AFL betting fans may not appreciate.

“Another way of saying this is that just because you are good at the tea room AFL tipping comp doesn’t mean you will win money gambling on AFL. The two things are very different.”

The researchers called for more information about winning and losing and betting odds in future gambling harm public health messaging.

As well as helping to inform psychological interventions targeting gamblers’ illusions of control, the researchers say sports media personalities and commentators should be discouraged from promoting their footy tips or best bets.

In 2022, gambling and wager companies spent $310 million in advertising in Australia. One study found 32% of sports bettors in SA gamble at risky levels compared to 27% of poker machine players and 12% of gamblers generally.

Read the full study:  Betting on Australian Rules Football: Can Expert Tipsters beat Randomness?

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The Adelaide Thunderbirds are the newest team to join Here For The Game. The Thunderbirds join Adelaide United FC, Adelaide Crows, Adelaide 36ers and the Adelaide Giants, who are all taking a stand against sports betting sponsorships and highlighting the risk sports betting can have on individuals and the community.

The reigning premiers are also helping launch the latest iteration of the Here For The Game, 'Spoil Sport'.

Featuring the newest Here For The Game ambassador, Thunderbirds captain, Hannah Petty. The campaign highlights behaviours where individuals are more concerned with their gambling than the actual game and juxtaposes it against players’ excitement and passion for their teams’ achievements. These behaviours can include being fixating on gambling rather than the game, regularly spending more than intended, or overreacting after losing a bet.

‘Spoil Sport’ also promotes visiting the Here For The Game website if individuals observe worrying behaviours in themselves or a mate around betting. The website offers suggestions on what to say if you are worried about someone’s gambling, shares real life experiences of gambling harm, and has stats and facts about how betting apps are spoiling sport. The website also links visitors to tools and resources to help prevent an escalation in risky betting behaviour.

The new campaign will roll out at Here For The Game partner home games as well as across a variety of formats including broadcast video on demand, social media, and regional radio.

For more information about the campaign visit: Here For The Game.

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