New Pause Before You Play Campaign Resources Available
Published: September 1, 2026
Responsible gambling and betting messaging can feel overwhelming at first if you don’t know where to begin. That’s why Pause Before You Play has new resources available for community partners and universities to help spread campaign messaging to different audiences and achieve your organization’s goals.
Covering campaign outreach on every level, these new resources aim to help community partners in prevention, treatment, and awareness feel confident in spreading effective low-risk and responsible gambling and betting messaging to audiences ages 21 and over. They will help deepen your knowledge of Pause Before You Play and strengthen your impact through a variety of effective and practical strategies.
Reaching Young Adults Through Video
One audience becoming increasingly impacted by gambling and betting-related harms is the emerging adult population. These individuals ages 21-24 experience increased exposure to gambling advertising and normalization of sports betting and other gambling-related activities within social settings causing a much higher risk for potentially developing a gambling disorder compared to older audiences. The brains of adults under 25 are also still developing which makes individuals more likely to form habits and engage in risky behaviors (i.e. seatbelt nonuse, driving after drinking alcohol, violence, etc.). Share the following video to any young adults you know and reshare on your social media platforms.
The New Resources Available
For reaching various audiences related to Pause Before You Play, here’s an outline of the different resources to help you know which will help you achieve your own goals more effectively:
- Pause Before You Play Overview
A broad overview of specific goals for the Pause Before You Play campaign and how different strategies can be used to make the campaign fit your goals. This will help you understand your needs better before you begin implementation. - Getting Started Worksheet
This step-by-step communications guide provides a checklist for each part of your outreach — from setting goals and understanding audiences to knowing what platforms, content, and timeline are effective — helping partners create a practical plan they can easily incorporate. - Best Practices
A comprehensive breakdown of the different print and digital advertising strategies that are effective, including information on how and where to best use the assets, as well as general messaging tips. - Case Studies
Learn how different organizations across Ohio have incorporated Pause Before You Play into their community outreach. - CSAP Tips
An in-depth guide for campaign incorporation and messaging specific to prevention professionals using Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) that helps to build relationships and enhance education in the community. - Advertising Guide
Focus on the different campaign resources you can use for advertising and outreach efforts.
7. Social Media Guide
A breakdown of the different social media platforms, with information to help you decide which is best for your goals and how to incorporate Pause Before You Play into each platform.
8. Make a Social Media Plan
Information to help create a social media content plan, including examples of post frequency and topics that are found to be effective.
9. Social Media Examples
A library of example posts, messages, hashtags, and CTAs that you can utilize for your social media.
10. Small, Medium, and Large Budget Examples
These guides will help you understand what strategies will be effective and practical for your own organization’s use depending on the financial resources available.
11. Media Terms 101
A glossary of important and relevant terms to placing paid media strategies.
12. Data & Facts Sheet
A resource full of data and facts related to gambling and sports betting that has been collected from state and national resources.
For additional resources and information on low-risk gambling, visit the website and stay updated on the latest responsible gambling information by following us at @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, Pause Before You Play on Facebook, and Pause Before You Play on LinkedIn.
And if you or someone you know is impacted by gambling and sports betting, don’t hesitate to call the free and confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text or chat with 988. Trained and understanding specialists are ready to take your call 24/7. The Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network also offers virtual telehealth services at no cost.