The Ping Wo Fund and the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau have launched a citywide anti-gambling publicity campaign in an effort to raise public awareness about gambling-related problems during the World Cup 2022 period.

Titled “Be the Wise Man of the Match!”, the campaign also aims to promote no-gambling messages through a range of district level and citywide events and publicity activities from mid-November to mid-December.

The programmes involve a “Say no to football gambling” carnival, a football fun day, a mascot design competition and more.

An exhibition will be held at different shopping malls to convey no-gambling messages, during which citizens can take part in mini football games and capture fun moments in a photo-taking zone to share the joy of playing football.

During the World Cup period, a publicity truck will also tour the city to educate people about the harm of gambling addiction through a multimedia exhibition and interactive games.

The fund has strengthened its publicity efforts in various media such as social media platforms and public transport, while arranging to promote anti-gambling messages on TV broadcasts before and after the live broadcast of World Cup matches.

People are encouraged to unleash their creativity by designing a mascot to represent the fund and submit their entries to the Ping Wo Fund Mascot Design Competition that invites entry submissions from today until December 18.

Additionally, the four counselling and treatment centres for gamblers financed by the fund will extend their service hours to answer the Gambling Counselling Hotline 183 4633 and respond to text messages received online or from instant messaging applications during the World Cup games.