South Australians are being encouraged to look out for one another and take steps to reduce the impact of gambling harm during Gambling Harm Action Week 2025 (19–25 October).

This year’s theme, “Supporting those close to you” highlights the important role that family, friends and communities play in recognising when someone may be experiencing gambling harm as well as encouraging them to seek help.

If you need help right now, call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. These services are open 24 hours.

Various materials/resources have been developed through a co-design process led by people with lived experience of gambling harm that provide:

• practical tips for starting conversations with loved ones
• advice on how to support children affected by gambling harm
• help understanding why people gamble
• clear information on how to access gambling help services.

The resources/materials are available online through Gambling Harm Support SA and will be distributed to over 450 pubs, clubs and help services across the State.

As part of the week, another burst of the hugely successful Spot the Harm. Stop the Harm. campaign will run from 19 October to 5 November 2025. Independent evaluation of the initiative has shown this campaign is driving positive change, with 38% of people who spent $100 or more per month on gambling saying the ads helped them cut down their gambling.

This is important because we know many gamblers who spend large amounts of money per month believe they don’t have their gambling under control, but think they can beat it themselves and are too embarrassed to seek help.

Consumer and Business Services have launched their new campaign ' Take a Break'. The pilot program will see posters rolled out to select pubs and clubs across the state for the next 30 days assisting people to bar themselves from venues.

The posters contain QR codes that patrons can easily scan to access an online form to help them take time out from gambling.  It is hoped that this swift and discreet process will help more people who know they are suffering from gambling harm but aren't ready to talk to take a break from their gambling.

If you're ready to take a break, get started now.

This year, South Australia is taking a fresh approach to how we discuss gambling harm during Gambling Harm Action Week (GHAW) from 27 October to 2 November 2024. The theme for this year, Let’s Change the Conversation, focuses on how the words we use can either support people to seek help or stop them from doing so. By changing the way we talk about gambling, we can break down barriers and reduce the stigma many people feel.

Introducing Gambling Harm Support SA

As part of this shift, the Office for Problem Gambling will be renamed Gambling Harm Support SA. This new name reflects a broader focus on the entire community impacted by gambling harm — not just those who gamble. It highlights the public health approach needed to tackle gambling harm, showing that help is available to anyone affected, including families and friends. The new name will be visible in gambling venues across the state and in campaigns like Here for the Game.

New Resources to Help Change the Conversation

Throughout the week, we will release new tools to help people talk about gambling harm in a way that encourages help-seeking. These include:

• Videos featuring people with lived experience of gambling harm, sharing how certain language affected their decision to seek help.
• Language guides that offer practical tips for professionals and the community on how to use non-stigmatising, supportive language.

These resources are designed to create a more understanding and compassionate environment for those impacted by gambling harm.

Why Language Matters

Research shows that calling someone a “problem gambler” can make them feel blamed or judged, making it harder for them to seek help. Gambling Harm Support SA aims to change this by promoting language that focuses on the issue of gambling harm, not the person. This encourages more open conversations that can lead to greater support for those in need.

We're changing the conversation around gambling harm.

When talking about the impact of gambling on a person there is evidence that referring to them as a ‘problem gambler’ gets in the way of people seeking help, suggests that the person is the problem and that change is not possible. Language can make gambling harm seem like an individual issue, ignoring its impacts on intimate partners, family, social networks, and the community. That's why this year, the theme of Gambling Harm Awareness Week is 'Let's change the conversation'.

It's time for ACTION!

Committing to walking to the walk and not just talking the talk, the first of many activities we are undertaking is changing the name of Gambling Harm Awareness Week to Gambling Harm Action Week. This important change signals to the community that we are committed to educating the community on all facets of gambling harm. We are also the first in Australia to adopt the new name (which we think is kind of special!).

Your words matter!

We have made a series of short videos featuring people with a lived experience of gambling harm. These videos will be part of a digital campaign that aims to highlight the way certain language affected these people and stopped them from seeking help.

Speak up!

We are releasing an up-to-date and practical language guide for media, professionals and the community, aimed at encouraging more effective conversations about gambling harm. The guide provides simple and powerful language tips to encourage people to seek help.

New kid on the block!

The Office for Problem Gambling is changing its name to Gambling Harm Support SA. This marks a significant step in reframing gambling issues as matters of health and wellbeing for the whole community, rather than focusing on one person. We aim to be a source of information for anyone affected by gambling harm in South Australia.

To learn more about these changes and activities , visit  'Let's change the conversation'.

On Friday 18 October 2024, the Office for Problem Gambling hosted a community of practice for key stakeholders from across the South Australian gambling landscape. The theme of the day was ‘Prevention, Early Intervention and Innovation.’ Participants learned about innovations and emerging practice in gambling harm minimisation. There was a strong focus on supporting community to recognise and intervene in early signs of gambling harm by building stronger social connections and reducing isolation.

This was done through community art projects, shared meals, engaging with online communities, and building an army of volunteers inside the Casino to engaged with peers they were concerned about. Nicola Coalter from Pragmatic Practice encouraged participants to ‘stack the deck’ in favour of gambling harm prevention and minimisation. Dr Coalter led us through a series of group activities that involved wearing six colourful thinking hats to inspire new ways of approaching common challenges in delivering prevention and early intervention initiatives.

Most excitingly the Minister for Human Services, Nat Cook, announced two key changes for the Office for Problem Gambling – the first being a change from Gambling Harm Awareness Week to Gambling Harm Action Week. GHAW falls from 27 October to 2 November 2024 and the change demonstrates our commitment to implementing practical, evidence-based solutions to tackling gambling harm. The second announcement will be formally made by the Minister this Sunday 27 October 2024.

Find out more about what we are doing this Gambling Harm Action Week or view presentations from the day

On Thursday 6 June the Gambling Harm Support SA (GHS SA) and the South Australian Financial Counselling Association (SAFCA) delivered its first gambling harm awareness training day for the financial wellbeing sector.

The need for such training was sparked by research showing that by the time someone reaches the gambling help service system they are typically in crisis, or ‘have hit rock bottom’, experiencing severe financial problems, psychological distress, and in some cases suicidality.

The training day began with a lived experience panel describing their experience of gambling harm and engaging with the financial wellbeing sector. It sought to inspire participants to intervene in gambling harm. Participants were shown how to ask clients about gambling and what to do if they find it.

Attendees were given a diverse range of resources and opportunities for them to practice their skills.

At the end of the event, attendees were instructed to ask three people to tell the group one thing they would take away from the day. This is what they said:

• they didn’t know that for many gamblers money loses its value while they are betting – it’s only later when the true cost of their behaviour becomes clear;
• there is great diversity in the gambling help service system – and they made great connections with people they feel comfortable calling after the event;
• there’s lots of ways to ask about gambling harm – the most important thing is to ask, and we shouldn’t be frightened or uncomfortable. For many gamblers, being asked about harm brings about great feelings of relief.”

To download available resources, visit resources for the allied sector

The Adelaide Thunderbirds are the newest team to join Here For The Game. The Thunderbirds join Adelaide United FC, Adelaide Crows, Adelaide 36ers and the Adelaide Giants, who are all taking a stand against sports betting sponsorships and highlighting the risk sports betting can have on individuals and the community.

The reigning premiers are also helping launch the latest iteration of the Here For The Game, 'Spoil Sport'.

Featuring the newest Here For The Game ambassador, Thunderbirds captain, Hannah Petty. The campaign highlights behaviours where individuals are more concerned with their gambling than the actual game and juxtaposes it against players’ excitement and passion for their teams’ achievements. These behaviours can include being fixating on gambling rather than the game, regularly spending more than intended, or overreacting after losing a bet.

‘Spoil Sport’ also promotes visiting the Here For The Game website if individuals observe worrying behaviours in themselves or a mate around betting. The website offers suggestions on what to say if you are worried about someone’s gambling, shares real life experiences of gambling harm, and has stats and facts about how betting apps are spoiling sport. The website also links visitors to tools and resources to help prevent an escalation in risky betting behaviour.

The new campaign will roll out at Here For The Game partner home games as well as across a variety of formats including broadcast video on demand, social media, and regional radio.

For more information about the campaign visit: Here For The Game.