Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2015

In 2015 Responsible Gambling Awareness Week aimed to educate young people and parents so that they can view gambling and its promotion in an informed and thoughtful way. We also reached out to help young people who may already be running into trouble with gambling.

Gambling has changed significantly in recent years. Advances in digital technology have increased the accessibility and availability of gambling, enabling people to gamble online any time of day from anywhere. The growth in online gambling, gaming and smart phone apps is concerning in that a significant amount of free, youth-targeted, non-monetary gambling games include advertisements for real gambling sites which hold no age regulations or barriers to playing.

Coupled with this is the boom in gambling advertising and promotion. The largest six sports-betting agencies spend up to $40 million each per year on promotion and a great deal of that is visible to young people. The positive portrayal of gambling and its associated glamour and excitement in films and advertising may encourage young people's false beliefs that this may lead to a similar lifestyle, and that they can develop the skills to beat the odds.

RGAW 2015 is about creating a generation of young people who are smart and thoughtful about gambling and can separate the truth from the glamorous imagery. Our focus is strongly on encouraging young people to know the realities about gambling - including the odds of winning and the costs of losing.

Central Coast Responsible Gambling Awareness Week's activities will include:

• The publication of a new booklet, Talking to Teens about Gambling, which will be made available free to Central Coast parents and carers.
• The delivery of interactive awareness sessions with local youth groups and organisations including Ourimbah TAFE
• The screening of "Gambling is Gammin" a DVD about the impact gambling has on our Aboriginal Community
• A Gaming and Gambling Survey for young people and the parents of young people. The surveys will investigate whether gambling behaviours are in any way related to gaming behaviours. The survey includes questions about gaming and gambling behaviours, experiences and attitudes as well as parents' experiences and attitudes towards their children's gaming and gambling behaviours

Many problem gamblers report that they first began gambling when they were under age. If young people are already gambling and running into trouble, then early intervention is essential. There are a number of resources and support services available for parents, carers and influencers through Gambling Help services so please contact us if you would like assistance.