The Victorian Government and Essendon Football Club have teamed up again to tackle problem gambling.

 

The Minister for Gaming, Tony Robinson, extended the Problem Gambling Statewide Community Partnership with Essendon for two years, during a visit to Windy Hill on Friday (which will be available on Bomber TV soon).

 

Significantly, this year, the Problem Gambling Statewide Community Partnership program will soon be expanded to include AFL Victoria.

 

Under the proposal, AFL Victoria will use its extensive reach into grass roots football across the State to help spread the responsible gambling message.

 
AFL Victoria is responsible for leagues with over 1,200 clubs across the State.
 

“The Brumby Government is committed to protecting Victorians from problem gambling and encouraging responsible gambling behaviours across the community,” Mr Robinson said.

 

“The Problem Gambling Community Partnership brings people and organisations together to improve understanding of problem gambling and its risks.

 

“Essendon will continue raising awareness of the impacts of problem gambling among its members, supporters and the broader community through a number of channels.”

 

Mr Robinson said Essendon’s Scott Lucas would continue as program ambassador.

 

“Scott has done a great deal to promote the partnership and spread the responsible gambling message including taking part in several regional community forums on problem gambling,"" he said.

 

“The club has promoted responsible gambling and awareness at matches through big screen broadcasts, advertisements in the AFL record, news articles on the club website and communications material, its on-ground banner and promotional give-aways.

 

“It has also incorporated responsible gambling messages into its popular On the Ball program for Year 8 students focusing on harm prevention.

 

“Essendon has worked hard to promote responsible gambling in the community and I look forward to seeing them build on that work in the future.”

 

As part of the partnership, Essendon has helped establish the Elite Sports Gambling Taskforce, involving over 40 sporting organisations, which is developing a strategy to tackling problem gambling at key elite and grass-roots sporting bodies and their member or affiliate clubs.

 

Scott Lucas said he is excited about continuing to deliver responsible gambling messages to young people and fellow footballers saying that AFL players, like many people in the community, need to be aware of the risks of problem gambling.

 

“Essendon is committed to raising awareness about the financial and emotional impact problem gambling can have on individuals, their family the broader community,” he said