Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2025 Queensland State Launch

This week is Gambling Harm Awareness Week (GHAW) in Queensland.

GHAW is a time to acknowledge the serious consequences that gambling harm can have on individuals, families, and communities. It also raises awareness of support services, highlights the issues driving harm, and calls for meaningful action, including legislative reform.

This year’s theme is “Protecting young people from gambling harm – it starts with you.”

This theme a powerful call on the roles we all play in protecting the next generation. By supporting early intervention, helping young people develop healthy perspectives, and ensuring access to barrier-free support, we can reduce the impact of gambling harm from a young age.

We started this important week with our biggest annual launch yet at Kedron-Wavell Services Club in Chermside, Brisbane. Nearly 400 attendees joined us, including key stakeholders from government, the gambling and sporting industries, and support services. Two lived experiences speakers bravely shared their stories – many attendees reflected on these powerful speeches as the highlights of the day.

Bill Owens FAICD , Chair of the Board at RAQ, opened the event as the Master of Ceremonies (MC).

Uncle Alex from Kurbingui gave a warm, moving Welcome to Country. This beautiful welcome honoured the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gathered.

Throughout the morning, Bill drew attention to the statistics of gambling amongst youth in Australia, the importance of equipping children with the tools to seek help, and the need for continued collaboration to protect young Queenslanders from harm.

The Honourable Deb Frecklington MP GAICD , Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, generously shared her support via video message as she was visiting the remote areas of Queensland.

“It’s important that we provide children with the tools to educate themselves on gambling harm. I look forward to working with our Safer Gambling Advisory Committee on our plan for safer gambling in Queensland.” - The Honourable Deb Frecklington, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity

Victoria Thomson, Commissioner for Liquor, Gaming, and Fair Trading, delivered a powerful address on the rising rates of gambling among school-aged children. She spoke about how gambling is normalised and socialised through family activities, advertising, video games, and social media influencers.

“Young people’s brains are still developing, especially when it comes to decision-making and impulse control. This makes them more susceptible to their environment. Children are impressionable; they learn from what they see, what they hear, and what they experience. Early experiences like picking lottery numbers and playing cards and bingo are social family activities, but they also socialise and normalise gambling.” - Victoria Thomson, Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming

Victoria also discussed Wizards and Wagers, a schools-based video game initiative that helps young people understand gambling harm, identify warning signs, and seek help – without punishing or prohibiting. The initiative is currently being delivered by Gambling Help Service community educators in several high schools, reflecting positive results amongst students. The goal is to see it in all Queensland high schools by next year.

Next, Principal Commissioner Luke Twyford of the Queensland Family and Child Commission spoke about the link between gambling harm and youth suicide. His confronting, alarming statistics were a clear call to action: we need early intervention, wraparound support, and targeted legislation to protect our children and save lives.

Ben Ikin, CEO of the Queensland Rugby League , addressed the strong link between gambling and sport in Australia. He highlighted the “Forget the Bet, Enjoy the Game” campaign, which encourages fans to focus on the love of the game and positions athletes as role models for safer gambling.

Two lived experience speakers, Mark and Adam, bravely took to the stage as they each shared their personal stories about their own gambling harm.

Mark spoke about his experience with gamified gambling, which occurred when he was a teenager. He reflected on how he didn’t know that gambling could be part of video games, and that he didn’t have the tools to understand that what he was partaking in was actually a form of gambling.

“They only show their wins, they never show their losses." - Lived experience speaker Mark

“They only show their wins, they never show their losses," Mark said, reflecting on the impact of social media influencers. His story highlighted how easily gambling-like features can lead to real harm. This harm cost him money, took a severe toll on his mental health, and affected his relationship with his parents – all while he was still only a teenager.

Finally, the event wrapped up with Adam’s honest, vulnerable sharing of how his gambling harmed himself, his wife, and his children.

“Her face when I finally told her the truth, I see that face every day.” - Lived experience speaker Adam

“Her face when I finally told her the truth, I see that face every day,” he remarked on the day when he opened up to his wife about the severity of his gambling.

Adam shared with us about his first time betting on races when he was just a teenager; the feeling of his first win was life-changing. Growing up in an unstable and abusive household, Adam kept chasing that feeling of the win – all the way into adulthood.

“I wasn’t winning money. I was buying time.” - Lived experience speaker Adam

“I wasn’t winning money. I was buying time.” Adam reflected about how he kept chasing losses and trying to win, but what he was really doing was losing valuable, irreplaceable time with his family. He recalled how his gambling had severe mental health impact on his wife and children. “Your life’s not a spectator sport – everyone’s playing.”

“Your life’s not a spectator sport – everyone’s playing.” - Lived experience speaker Adam

Adam hasn’t had a bet in six years, which is a significant achievement.

These raw and deeply personal stories reminded everyone why GHAW matters, and why early intervention is essential. The bravery shown by Mark and Adam set the tone for a powerful week of learning, reflection, and action.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

Gambling harm is a public health issue – and it’s everyone’s business.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible RAQ team for coming together to make this event a success, and for providing support throughout the day, especially considering the sensitive and emotional nature of the discussions.

We’re also grateful to the @Queensland Department of Justice and the @Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation for their continued support and commitment to safer gambling, harm reduction, and resourcing Gambling Help Services and the Gambling Helpline across Queensland.

If you or someone you know is being impacted by gambling harm, free support is available. Call the Gambling Helpline at 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelpqld.org.au

#GamblingHarmAwarenessWeek #GamblingHarmAwarenessWeek2025 #GHAW2025