Cricket Victoria has demonstrated its support for the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s new Join the club campaign, today renewing its commitment to reducing kids’ exposure to sports betting promotions through a one-year extension to its Love the Game partnership.
The Foundation’s campaign features elite and community level players and administrators, parents, kids, umpires and coaches from a range of codes that have united in saying no to sports betting sponsorships.
‘Partnerships with organisations like Cricket Victoria are critical because they give young people an opportunity to enjoy sport without associating it with gambling,’ Foundation CEO Shane Lucas said.
‘The first generation of kids to grow up with gambling advertising is the largest group of sports bettors in Victoria, with almost one in three bets placed by young men aged 18–24 years and participation by young women rising.
‘Love the Game aims to counter the normalisation of gambling on sport and help young people to understand the risks and potential negative effects before they’re legally allowed to bet.’
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins said extending its partnership with the Foundation would have important long-term benefits.
‘Community sport and clubs are at the heart of what we do in Victorian cricket. Through this partnership, we’re limiting the amount of gambling advertising seen by young people in our sport, and equipping them to recognise, and manage, gambling risks,’ Mr Cummins said.
The renewed partnership includes Cricket Victoria, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades and local cricket clubs across the state, and will continue to focus on community engagement and participation by community clubs in the Love the Game program.
The Foundation will also continue to be an associate partner of the Cricket Victoria Youth Premier League (YPL), offering education sessions to participating teams throughout the YPL this season.