The Poor Handling of Sports Gambling
It is no secret that gambling on sport has been a part of the entertainment for centuries before us and we all know someone in our lives who likes the occasional... or sometimes more than occasional punt. However, the true weight of the issue is lost on most Australians, and it turns out the difference between a punter and a problem gambler is not as great as you would think, but the repercussions are enormous.
In order to paint the picture a little more clearly, let us throw some statistics at you:
- Australians have higher gambling losses per person than any other Country
- These loses are estimated at $1,276 per person per year
- More than 1% of Australians are “problem gamblers”
- The rates for of Problem Gambling are much higher for online gamblers than those who use Pokie Machines
- In total, Australians gamble about $25 billion every year
But as of March 2023, there will be new messaging around gambling promotions and advertising to help curb the drastic numbers that have been identified in Australian punters. The government has said that the new taglines are based on behavioural research and testing to identify the most effective wording.
The new taglines include the following:
- “Chances are you’re about to lose”
- “Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?”
- “What’s gambling really costing you?”
- “What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.”
- “Imagine what you could be buying instead.”
- “You win some. You lose more”
- “What are you really gambling with.”
This is a topic that resonates close to home with us here at Teknique. We are proud to have worked on two campaigns this year with the NSW Government Department of Responsible Gambling and their partnership with Cricket NSW. This campaign focussed on relaying the message from the players that betting is fine so long as it’s done responsibly, however, sport should be enjoyed for the entertainment that is already provides and you shouldn’t rely on betting to enjoy the game.
This campaign was spearheaded with two pieces of content for Social & Stadium usage, and seven short videos of player interviews, talking about why they want fans to enjoy the game and not fall victim to problem gambling.
You can view these edits below.
Sydney Sixers Reclaim the Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujXzjR8U2n0
Sydney Thunder Reclaim the Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyGPRmXrLnE
If you are experiencing hardships with gambling or know someone who is, there is support available. Call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
By Lachlan McCarron