Basketball Victoria says ‘Love the Game, Not the Odds’
As a Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation ‘Love the Game’ partner, Basketball Victoria has committed to help educate the community to reduce the exposure of young people to gambling promotion.
Basketball Victoria joins a growing number of sporting organisations across the state, including the Deakin Melbourne Boomers and South East Melbourne Phoenix, to disrupt the normalisation of betting on sport.
Announcing the new partnership, Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said he encouraged member associations and clubs to spread the message to love the game, not the odds.
‘Basketball has a high rate of participation among young people, and we see this partnership as an opportunity to talk to participants, parents and the community about the risks associated with sports betting and to show them that sport and gambling don’t have to go together.’
Foundation CEO Shane Lucas welcomed the partnership, noting young men (18–24 years) make up a-third of sports bettors in Victoria, and that participation by young women is rising.
‘It’s no coincidence that this group is the first generation to have grown up with sports betting ads,’ Mr Lucas said. ‘The ads make betting on sport seem normal and risk-free - when the consequences can actually be harmful - so it’s important to ensure young people understand what’s really at stake.
‘Through our Love the Game partners, we help young people learn about the risks associated with gambling and equip them to make critical, informed decisions about participating in sports betting as adults.’
More than 650 community and professional sporting clubs in a range of codes across Victoria are Love the Game partners.
To celebrate Love the Game month, the first 100 Associations or clubs to sign up receive a free merchandise pack with Love the Game branded equipment including: ball bag, training cones, clipboard, cap, and lanyard.
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