The Eastern Football League is proud to participate in the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s annual Love the Game round of footy this weekend.
United by a passion for the game, the round will be held across the state from June 27-30 2019, with the aim to remind fans and players alike that sport and betting don’t have to go together, despite the significant amount of advertising that is now taken as a normal part of the sporting landscape.
During this year’s round, parents and other influential adults are being encouraged to talk to the kids in their life about the the risks and potential harms associated with sports betting so that they can develop a more balanced, realistic understanding of how gambling works.
Parents, teachers, coaches and others should be concerned by research that shows 75 per cent of teenagers think gambling is a normal part of sport.
Footy has so much to offer, from obvious benefits like physical fitness, skills development and the fun of playing, to more sophisticated outcomes, such as an appreciation of contributing to something that is bigger than the individual, learning to be a gracious winner and loser, and understanding strategy.
The Love the Game round provides a terrific opportunity for us to share and celebrate with our kids these and all the other things we enjoy about sport, which have nothing to do with gambling.
How can you get involved?
- Agree to say no to sports betting sponsorship and sign up to the charter. It’s easy and only takes a couple of minutes – visit vic.gov.au/join.
- Follow the Foundation on social media to stay up-to-date with all things Love the Game.
- Share, post and tag social content – visit lovethegame.vic.gov.au/resourcehub to download content that’s ready to go.
- Encourage everyone in your community to have ‘the talk’ with the kids in their lives.
For more information, visit lovethegame.vic.gov.au or share your thoughts on social media using #LoveTheGame.
