Help is on the way for young people in the ACT who are at risk of gambling harm, the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Gambling Research states.

Video games and sports betting are introducing more young people to gambling online, but parents and carers have limited understanding of the types of online gambling platforms that target youths, according to Associate Professor Aino Suomi, the Centre’s Director. Moreover, there are no publicly accessible gambling harm resources designed for young people in the ACT.

“This needs to change if we are to protect our young people from gambling harm,” Associate Professor Suomi said.

Her project will design a public health strategy to protect young people from gambling harm. This will include a digital hub with targeted resources for both at-risk youth and their parents and carers.

The researchers will work with parents and guardians, sporting clubs and other groups to design the resources.

“The online gambling space is rapidly evolving; gambling features in video games pose the most risk given the lack of regulation,” Associate Professor Suomi said.

“This project will build directly on our previous studies that told us more about how and why young people are gambling online.

“We know they’re mostly engaging in gambling outside the school environment, so a wider community approach is crucial.”

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Gaming, said he was pleased to see the ANU taking a leading rôle in this work.

“Young people are increasingly being targeted and urged into online gambling,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“It is vital that they understand the risk and life changing harms that can come from gambling, and they need to have the tools and resources to understand and resist what they are being exposed to.

The research will be undertaken in partnership with the Youth Coalition of the ACT, and is expected to be completed with the launch of the digital hub in the second half of 2025.

The project is funded through the Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund administered by the Gambling and Racing Commission.

The project forms part of the Commission’s increased focus on young people. The Commission is also due to launch gambling harm awareness resources in ACT high schools by the end of this year.