Community concern about sports betting is on the rise, with 88% of Victorian sports fans in agreement that kids see too many gambling ads.
Football Victoria is proud to partner with the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and kicking off in June, we’ll be supporting a state-wide Love the Game campaign - because we love the game, not the odds.
We want to increase community concern about the issue of gambling in sport and protect children from being exposed to sports betting advertising. We’re encouraging all Clubs to take part. There will be free merchandise and giveaways throughout the month!
Why is this an issue?
Victoria lost record amounts on online betting and wagering in July to December 2020, with an increase of 35 per cent in losses compared to the same period in from 2019, losing almost $800 million a day on gambling
- Participation rates of young males and females in sports betting is increasing
- Men aged 18-24 now make up a third of all sports bettors in Victoria – they were the first generation of kids to be exposed to sports betting advertising
- Sports betting is more accessible now due to mobile devices and betting agencies directly promoting to people via text and email.
How your Club can participate
There are many ways to get involved.
Join the Love The Game Program
- We encourage all Clubs to sign up to the Love the Game program. If you agree that sport and betting shouldn’t go together, join more than 500 clubs across Victoria who have signed up to Love the Game. It’s easy, only takes a couple of minutes and your club will be helping young people love the game, not the odds. Sign up here.
Host a themed round
- Raise awareness of the Love the Game round by having your match officials sport Love the Game branded wristbands at your matches on the weekend of 4–6 June 2021. If your club would like to get involved and receive free wristbands:
- Email VRGF by 27 May to let them know your club is interested to participate in the Love the Game theme round. Get in quick, numbers are limited.
- In your email, include how many match officials you have and your mailing address to receive the wristbands
- The Love the Game team will send out the merchandise to you - you just need to make sure your match officials are wearing it on that weekend.
Share photos
- Take photos of your match officials sporting their Love the Game merchandise and post them on your clubs social media channels, and VRGF will select the best photo - make sure you include #lovethegamenottheodds in any posts. That Club will win a Melbourne Victory signed ball.