South Australia launches new advertising campaign to combat problem gambling

South Australia has launched a new advertising campaign aimed at helping people recognize and address gambling harm early. The ‘Spot the Harm. Stop the Harm.’ campaign uses TV, radio, and online ads to highlight the impacts of problem gambling, featuring personal stories from problem gamblers and those affected by their behavior.

The campaign highlights some of the common early warning signs of gambling harm, including increased stress, anxiety, or mood changes, withdrawal from family, friends, or relationships, decreased work performance or distractions at work, secretive behavior surrounding finances, and persistent thoughts about gambling.

“No one should suffer in silence,” South Australia’s Minister of Human Services Nat Cook said in a statement. “‘Spot the Harm, Stop the Harm’ is a bold step towards ensuring South Australians understand the risks and seek help when they need it.” 

“We were incredibly excited to be given this chance, and we’re thrilled with the work. The message is simple and powerful: if you spot the harm, you can stop the harm,” said David Ormston, co-creative director at SAUCE, the agency behind the campaign.

The campaign will run across TV, BVOD, radio, outdoor, and digital platforms, targeting low to medium-risk gamblers. It aims to prevent more people from joining the nearly 14% of Australians who engage in high-risk gambling and support the 1.2 million Australians affected by someone else’s gambling.

The campaign encourages South Australians to visit Gambling Harm Support SA to learn more about how to identify gambling harm, how to respond, and the available resources for support.