The Adelaide Football Club has joined the State Government’s ‘Here For The Game’ campaign which challenges the normalisation of gambling in sport.

The Here For The Game campaign forms part of a broader prevention initiative to raise awareness of gambling harm and educate the community about the risks attached to sports betting.

The Crows join a chorus of other elite sporting clubs including Adelaide United, the Adelaide 36ers and the Adelaide Giants, in supporting the principle ‘we’re here for the game, not the gambling’.

The latest advertising campaign featuring the Adelaide Crows challenges the convergence of sport and gambling, promoting ways South Australians can help keep themselves safe from gambling harm.

 Here For The Game also seeks to create opportunities for parents to have conversations with their children about this topic, and provide helpful resources for anyone concerned about this issue.

This AFL season, commuters going to Crows’ home games can look forward to seeing footy heroes Riley Thilthorpe and Anne Hatchard on tram advertising and at train and bus stations promoting the positive aspects of sport, such as the atmosphere and memories it creates, rather than gambling during sporting events.

As part of the partnership with the Adelaide Crows there will also be on-ground, television, outdoor, online and social media ads featuring Riley and Anne to help spread the message among footy fans and the wider South Australian community that you don’t have to gamble to enjoy footy.

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the Club was pleased to help remind people of the enjoyment football and all sport provides, without the need for betting to enhance that.

“As an elite sporting club we know that we have a responsibility towards our fans, especially kids, to promote positive behaviours and attitudes,” Silvers said.

“Joining the Here For The Game campaign is a great fit with that responsibility and it gives us another platform to be role models for youngsters.

“We would love for our fans and members to be at our games because they enjoy the atmosphere and the quality of athleticism and being part of the action, not because they feel a need to place bets on every kick.”

Minister for Human Services Nat Cook said she was convinced the Crows’ backing will considerably boost the positive Here For The Game messaging, with a far-reaching impact on our young people and kids.

“The number of South Australian gamblers experiencing gambling harm in this State would be enough to fill Adelaide Oval twice,” Minister Cook said.

“That is why I am so pleased that the Crows, with one of the biggest fan bases in our State, are now a part of this highly successful campaign.

“Today’s young people don’t know a world without gambling advertising at saturation levels and South Australians are rightly concerned about this - and how it is affecting their enjoyment of sport.

“After reaching an audience of over 9 million in the first year of the Here For The Game campaign, we are confident the Crows can build on this early success and deliver its positive and important message to more South Australians.

“Research shows adults are concerned about the amount of sports betting advertising children are exposed to and most adults want to talk to their kids about the risks of betting on sports. Unfortunately, very few of us feel informed enough to have the conversation.

“I encourage you to visit www.hereforthegame.com.au. Here you will find tips on how to start the conversation, interesting stats and facts about risky betting, and you might even bump into a Crows player or two.”

For more information about Here For The Game visit: Here for the game.