Launceston Basketball Association ‘gets into the game’
February 28, 2024
Basketball in Northern Tasmania is supporting the good health of young players by highlighting the risks of sports-betting. The Launceston Basketball Association (LBA) is the latest sign-up to the Get into the Game program run by Anglicare Tasmania.
This program aims to reduce the exposure of the community to gambling promotions and to disrupt the normalisation of betting on sports.
General Manager of the LBA Mitch Duhig said Get into the Game was a good fit for the Association’s values.
“Unfortunately sports betting has become a very ‘normal’ thing to do, even at the basketball stadium,” he said. “I have seen people’s moods change extremely fast based on real-time gambling outcomes. I’ve also seen an increase in ‘simulated gambling’ in video games, such as virtual slot machines and ‘loot boxes’. These encourage players to use real money for repeat spending, similar to the way people use poker machines.”
Mitch said young adults openly shared the mechanics of and complex strategies behind their gambling, including the large amount of money that was going into these activities.
“Over the past several years I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of casual conversations among players and referees in the 18-23 age group that reference gambling activities and terminology,” he said.
“Get into the Game is an excellent program. It sends a clear message to the people who watch sport and participate in sport that it can be exciting without the need to have a financial stake in it. And it gives the Association the information we need to support our young people to understand the impacts that gambling has on them.”
The presence of sports betting advertising is widespread and Anglicare is seeing a growing number of people affected by sport-related gambling harm.
“We know from our Gamblers Help and financial counselling services that people across all demographics are betting on sports that span multiple codes, from the elite level down to young people’s competitions,” said Anglicare’s General Manager Housing & Community Services Noel Mundy.
“Young men are particularly at risk of being harmed by gambling on sport. One alarming figure is that 23% of young men who bet on sports started doing so when they were under 18 years old,” said Noel.
The Launceston Basketball Association is focused on providing a healthy and supportive environment for players.
“It’s an exciting time for the LBA,” said Mitch. “We recently launched a new competition – Under 22 Combine – that has drafted up-and-coming players across the clubs in our region and the standard is very high.”
Would you like more information?
Anglicare has dedicated staff members who will guide clubs through the sign-up process for the Get into the Game program.
Anyone interested in learning more about the program can visit the Get into the Game website or contact Anglicare by phone on 1800 243 232 or email, info@getintothegame.com.au
Anglicare runs a suite of gambling support programs for people living in all regions of Tasmania.
Launceston Basketball Association
PIC:
Anglicare Tasmania’s Get into the Game coordinators Sarah Thompson (far left) and Dimity Mika (far right) travelled to Launceston in early February with a pop-up display that promoted the program to LBA staff, players and their families. Pictured with them are referees and members of the Under 22 Combine teams.
Credit: Liam Boric Photography
