The Geelong Football Club, an Australian Rules Football team, has pledged their support to a program called “Love the Game” organized by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
They are taking action against the ubiquity of sports wagering in Australia. During a game against the Western Bulldogs, the Cats prohibited all gambling promotions from their home stadium, Kardinia Park.
The Cats are just one of over 500 athletic organizations in Victoria that have rejected sports betting sponsorships. They are especially worried about the influence of gambling marketing on youth. All ten AFL clubs in Victoria are aligned in this position.
The reason for this worry is clear. Almost one-third of all sports bets in Victoria are made by males between 18 and 24 years old. Considering the amount of exposure millennials and Generation Z have to sports betting advertisements, it’s unsurprising that so many young individuals are becoming entangled in gambling.
A 2020 study revealed that 88% of Victorian sports enthusiasts think young people are subjected to excessive sports betting marketing. The funds allocated to gambling advertising in Australia have surged in recent times, increasing from $89.7 million in 2011 to an astounding $2.32 billion in 2019.
Bryce Cox, Geelong’s chief commercial officer, stated: “It’s crucial for our organization to be free from gambling and gaming, and we take pride in our stadium being free of any sports betting advertisements.”
The Geelong Football Club is a proud supporter of the “Love the Game” program, an initiative created by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. The club has chosen to oppose sports betting sponsorships to reduce the volume of gambling promotions seen by supporters, particularly youth. They aim to cultivate an authentic passion for the sport, inspiring young enthusiasts to appreciate the excitement of the game itself, instead of perceiving it through a wagering perspective.
