Gambling Prevention & Responsible Game Campaign

1. Campaign Basics

1. What is the title of your campaign? "Think Before You Bet"

2. What is the key message you want people to remember? "Gambling consumes more than just money; it eats your time. Don't let chance dictate your future—press pause and think before you bet."

3. Who is your target audience? The general public, specifically targeting young adults and commuters passing through busy city centers who may be unaware of how quickly gambling can spiral out of control.

2. Objectives & Activity

4. What are the main goals of your campaign?

• Visual Impact: To create a physical "pause" in a busy environment that symbolizes the moment of reflection needed before making a bet.

• Engagement: To drive traffic to the anonymous self-assessment check-up via the QR code on the flyers.

• Data Collection: To gather real-world opinions on gambling habits through audio interviews.

5. What activity will you implement? We will conduct a "Freeze Flashmob."

• The Action: Participants will blend into the crowd. At a specific signal, one person shouts "STOP!", and the entire team freezes in place like statues for exactly 10 seconds. This stillness represents the act of stopping to think.

• The Climax: After the 10 seconds, the group unfreezes and shouts in unison: "Think before you bet!" before dispersing.

• The Follow-up: Immediately after dispersing, team members will distribute flyers with QR codes and conduct brief 3-question audio interviews with bystanders who witnessed the event.

6. What steps will you follow during the 1 hour and 30 minutes?

• 00:00 – 00:10 (Briefing): Meet at the location, assign specific spots, test audio recorders, and practice the "Freeze" synchronization.

• 00:10 – 00:25 (Flashmob Round 1): Execute the first flashmob. Immediately follow up by handing out flyers to the surprised crowd.

• 00:25 – 00:50 (Interviews): The "Interviewer" sub-team approaches people for the 3-question survey while others distribute flyers.

• 00:50 – 01:00 (Regroup & Relocate): Move to a slightly different spot in the same square/street to reach a new crowd.

• 01:00 – 01:15 (Flashmob Round 2): Execute the second flashmob.

• 01:15 – 01:25 (Final Push): Final distribution of flyers and last few interviews.

• 01:25 – 01:30 (Debrief): Team gathers to ensure all audio files are saved and leftover materials are collected.

7. How will you measure success?

• Quantitative: Number of flyers distributed and number of scans on the QR code (tracked via analytics).

• Qualitative: The number of recorded interviews captured and the emotional reaction of the crowd during the "Freeze."

3. Team & Roles

8. What is each person’s role?

• The Signal: One person responsible for checking the time, shouting "STOP!", and initiating the unison chant.

• The Statues (General Team): Responsible for blending in, performing the freeze (representing "Thinking"), and distributing flyers immediately after.

• The Interviewers (2-3 people): Dedicated members who step out of the "statue" role quickly to approach curious bystanders with smartphones/recorders for the interviews.

• The Safety/Observer: One person who does not freeze, but watches the crowd to ensure nobody interferes with the statues and handles any security inquiries.

4. Materials & Logistics

9. What materials or props do you need?

• Smartphones: For recording audio interviews and taking photos/videos of the campaign for social media.

• Flyers: Premade handouts using the "Traffic Light" layout (Risk, Prevention, Solution) and containing the QR code for the check-up.

• Everyday Clothing: To ensure the flashmob comes as a surprise (no uniforms).

10. Where will your activity take place, and why?

• Location: The city center of Nicosia, Cyprus (specifically high-traffic areas like Ledra Street or Eleftheria Square).

• Why: It is the busiest hub in the capital, providing a mix of university students, locals, and tourists, which ensures high visibility and a diverse range of interview responses.

5. Public Interaction & Safety

11. How will you approach and engage the public respectfully?

• We will use a soft approach: "Hi, did you see our action? We are students promoting responsible decision-making. Do you have 30 seconds to answer three quick questions?"

• We will never block someone’s path physically. If they say no, we smile and say, "Have a nice day."

12. How will you handle sensitive reactions or emotional responses?

• If someone reveals they are struggling with gambling, we will stop the interview/recording immediately.

• We will listen empathetically and point out the helpline number printed clearly on the flyer. We are there to raise awareness, not to provide therapy.

13. How will you ensure everyone’s safety?

• We will use the "Buddy System" (no one works alone during interviews).

• The "Safety/Observer" role ensures that if a bystander tries to touch or mess with a "frozen" participant, they can intervene verbally.

• We will carry ID cards/student permits in case police or security ask for identification.

6. Evaluation & Backup Plan

14. What challenges do you expect, and what is your backup plan?

• Challenge 1: Security/Police interference.

  • Backup: We will explain we are doing a student project. If the flashmob is forbidden, we will switch to simply walking in pairs and politely distributing flyers.

• Challenge 2: Bad Weather (Rain).

  • Backup: We will move the activity to the nearest covered porticoes or the entrance of the train station/shopping mall (standing outside, under cover).

• Challenge 3: Low Engagement (People ignoring us).

  • Backup: We will switch from the passive "Freeze" to a more active approach, where the group forms a line and simply holds up the flyers in silence to create a "wall of information."