Practical actions for NGOs to address gambling harms

Awareness & Education

• Organise Gambling Harm Awareness Weeks with themed days and events (locally and nationally).

• Develop and distribute educational materials: brochures, posters, videos, and age-appropriate programmes for schools and youth centres.

• Launch social media campaigns using infographics, videos, and lived experience stories.

• Integrate gambling harm education into school curricula and youth programmes.

• Build coalitions with other NGOs to strengthen advocacy efforts and share best practices.

Community Engagement

• Partner with healthcare providers, educators, law enforcement, and community leaders.

• Host public screenings, panel discussions, and forums featuring experts and lived experience voices.

• Facilitate peer support groups for affected individuals and families.

• Offer training for professionals to recognise and respond to gambling harm.

• Create multilingual resources to ensure accessibility for diverse communities.

Policy & Advocacy

• Advocate for policy reforms on gambling advertising, product design, and accessibility (local zoning laws and national legislation).

• Engage decision makers with evidence and personal stories to support regulation.

• Monitor and challenge industry influence in education and public discourse.

• Support research and data collection to inform policy and prevention strategies.

Support Services

• Provide low-threshold access to help via walk-in centres and helplines.

• Integrate gambling harm treatment into broader addiction and mental health services.

• Promote national resources like helplines and online support platforms.

• Ensure culturally appropriate services for marginalised and high-risk populations.