Children, young people at risk as authorities aim to 'de-couple' sport and gambling

You're not alone.

With footy finals in full swing and gambling ads flooding TV screens at every opportunity, young men are squarely in the sights of betting companies.

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It's a demographic that is at a much higher risk of problem betting according to Natalie Wright, Director of the Office of Responsible Gambling.

"Online sports betting is the fastest growing form of gambling," Wright told the Goulburn Post.

"Seventy per cent of all sports betting is now done online as opposed to 37 per cent of race betting.

"It is something that is very convenient for people and that makes it more risky. You've got 24-hour access essentially to gambling on your phone.

"Those at higher risk are young men particularly those aged 18 to 24....that demographic of young, single, professional, tech-savvy is really the group that's at highest risk and it's also the group that wagering operators target with advertising."

While problem gambling has traditionally been associated with poker machines, Wright said the shift towards online betting is encompassing entire generations.

"We generally find those who are doing a lot of sports betting have got full-time jobs or studying full-time and that greater exposure to all of those promotions does put them at higher risk of problem gambling as well as peer pressure," she explained.

"It's changed. Certainly we know that with poker machines older people are at risk and it's a completely different demographic.

"With the advent of sports betting online, that younger cohort has migrated to that form of gambling and that's really who it's marketed towards."

Initiatives such as 'Betiquette' and 'Reclaim the Game' are designed to educate people on how to remain in control rather than straight discouragement.

However with gambling very much front and centre as the winter codes reach their climax, betting and sport can appear inextricably linked.

Wright said her department was determined to 'de-couple' that association, especially for children.

"We're trying to de-couple that link between betting and sport, particularly for kids. The generation that is coming through school now don't know sport without seeing odds," she said.

"It's very much about trying to challenge that normalisation of gambling and sport.

"Our objective is to make sure people who are gambling online are aware of the risks and the tools that are available to them to better manage their gambling.

"Also if they get into trouble, to reach out early in the piece. We find a lot of people who are struggling think that because they haven't lost their house or their job, that it's not that bad.

"Look out for your mates. If you're concerned about how your mate is gambling you can really help them to have a conversation about it."

If you or anyone you know has a problem with gambling you can contact GambleAware to begin a conversation.

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