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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-23 Daily Xml
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Teenage Gambling

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS ().19 October 2022).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Human Services has advised:

1. The Department for Human Services' (DHS) Office for Problem Gambling (OPG) has not conducted recent studies into the local prevalence of teenage problem gambling but Victorian research from 2017 found 1.4 per cent of 12 to 17 year olds met the criteria for problem gambling.

OPG-funded research, released in 2021, surveyed 2,030 South Australian adults about their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours towards sports betting and results included that a majority: are concerned by how much sports betting advertising children are exposed to (78 per cent); believe advertising makes children think betting on sport is normal (84 per cent); and encourages children to want to gamble (76 per cent).

2. DHS funds the Unplugged Program to deliver free workshops to parents and young people about the links between gambling and gaming. The workshop is being delivered to schools, youth-focused organisations and professionals across metropolitan Adelaide and some regional locations. An evaluation by Flinders University found Unplugged was well received by participants and significantly increased awareness and understanding of all types of gambling.

After the workshop, participants were more likely to view gambling as risky and less profitable.

Unplugged was expanded in 2022 to include a small number of workshops for professionals seeking to better understand terminology and risks associated with gaming and gambling.

DHS has also partnered with Adelaide United Football Club (AUFC) and Adelaide Giants baseball club to implement the Here for the Game (HFTG) campaign, an initiative which aims to disrupt the normalisation of betting in sport. HFTG launched in November 2021 and includes a communications campaign and educational website (www.hereforthegame.com.au) that has resources and support for carers to speak with young people about gambling harm.

The HFTG campaign achieved over nine million impressions during its 27-week run. A review of social media engagement and survey of AUFC fans revealed overwhelmingly positive sentiment towards the campaign in the community.

Phase two of HFTG will support amateur sporting clubs to raise awareness and take action to prevent and minimise gambling harm in their local community.

Gambling Help Service staff also provide information about gambling harm and case management support to schools and community groups. Examples include making professional connections with school staff and leaders, participating in youth camps and school events, and presenting at school assemblies (e.g. lived experience speakers), group sessions and the development of educational tools.

3. Gambling Help Services funded by the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund are available to people of all ages and young people are also able to access a range of other gambling support including the Unplugged Program.

4. The Unplugged Program, noted above, has received $265,000 in funding from the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund over 2020-21 to 2022-23.

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