Hundreds sign up for 100 Day Challenge

Over 1,000 people have signed up to take better control over their gambling in the first six weeks of a new problem gambling campaign launched by Premier Denis Napthine.

The 'Fight for the real you' campaign features the stories of four people with gambling problems captured in a daily video diary.  To date, 1016 people have registered to take their own challenge while the campaign website has had more than 70,000 hits.

The website provides information about counselling options as well as tools for people who are worried about their gambling. They can join online forums, receive tips and tools for controlling their gambling, and keep their own private written or video diary.

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation chief executive officer Serge Sardo says the response has been fantastic.

"People are using the website to connect to a variety of support options including the online forum and chat facilities. They're using the self-help tools as well as choosing to self-exclude from particular venues and they're connecting with peer support and counselling services, he said.

Mr Sardo says the campaign has exceeded all expectations considering the difficult to reach target audience.

"People with gambling problems are very hard to reach with many not recognising they have a problem until they're having serious financial or personal difficulties.  The fact we are closing in on our target of a thousand participants in just five weeks means we have hit our mark," he said.

One of the campaign heroes, former AFL Melbourne Football Club player Daniel Ward, says he's been blown away by the support from the community.

"I went into this hoping that by sharing my experience, others would know they aren't alone and would seek the help they need. I'm so glad my story and those of my fellow campaign participants have helped show there is a way out of problem gambling," said Mr Ward.

Mr Sardo says participants have been buoyed by messages of support from the public.

"Their stories are real, they are emotional and they are honest about the challenge of getting on top of their gambling problems.  We hope their stories are helping to break down the stigma around problem gambling, which is one of the major reasons people don't seek help earlier before problem gambling wreaks major havoc in their lives," he said.

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation was established in mid 2012 to take new and innovative approaches to tackling problem gambling which affects around 130,000 Victorians.*

Follow our heroes at www.fightforyou.com.au

*Victorian Gambling Study 2009