IT is GambleAware Week and this year the NSW Government wants to open up the conversation on gambling harm to encourage more people to seek advice or support when needed.
GambleAware provides free and confidential support to people experiencing gambling harm, whether from their own or someone else’s gambling, and GambleAware Week is a chance to highlight the ongoing work to reduce the impact of gambling harm across NSW.
The 2026 campaign will help to reduce the stigma of gambling harm by allowing people to share their own, lived experience and encourage more open conversations with the tagline, ‘Now we see it, let’s talk about it’.
The campaign features a visual artistic representation based on the lived experiences of people affected by gambling harm, to encourage conversations to reduce the stigma.
The government has boosted funding for GambleAware services by an extra $1.3 million this year to expand the GambleAware network to more locations and support the recruitment of more peer support workers.
In addition, the government announced in August a major gaming reform package to give people and families stronger protections against gambling harm and introduce tougher rules around the way gambling is promoted and marketed.
The reforms include:
– a $20 million boost to the Responsible Gambling Fund over the next two years to support delivery of its array of services and programs to prevent and address gambling harm
– development of a statewide exclusion register covering every hotel and club with gaming machines with mandatory facial recognition at the entry of gaming rooms
– a third‑party exclusion scheme in hotels and clubs
putting in place the necessary infrastructure to facilitate future account-based play, including upgrading the Centralised Monitoring System over the next two years to allow for a transition to this technology
– an increased forfeiture rate when gaming machine entitlements are traded from one in three to one in two – meaning for every two entitlements traded, one will be permanently removed
– Banning VIP programs to strengthen protections against gambling harm
– Increased regulatory oversight on gaming machine and online gaming to increase enforcement powers and remove legal loopholes.
GambleAware Week will run from 19 to 25 October. Information about the week’s activities, resources and support is available at gambleaware.nsw.gov.au.
More information on the government’s gaming reform package is available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/liquor-and-gaming/gaming/gaming-reform-package
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