Youth in grades 3-12 and senior citizens aged 60 and up from Berks County, PA are eligible to participate. Cyber-school and home-schooled youth are also eligible to enter. There are four age categories: • Elementary: Grades 3-5 • Middle School: Grades 6-9 • High School: Grades 10-12 • Senior Citizens ages 60 & older (New this year!)
Posters created by students must be their own original hand drawn artwork and focused on the theme “Gaming & Gambling: The House Always Wins.”
Materials: Students may use a variety of materials, such as watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc. Digitally created artwork is also permitted. Keep in mind that posters will need to be photographed and submitted electronically and should be clear to read. Most posters will likely be on public display and should be easy to see or read.
Size & Layout:
Entries must be in landscape view preferably on 11″ x 8.5″ or 17″ x 11″ white paper.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
• Entries must meet the poster requirements specified above and include the Release Form (electronic signature is
acceptable). A poster not accompanied by a completed Release Form and contact information will not be eligible for
further judging.
• Any artwork including copyrighted material will be eliminated immediately from the contest.
• All artwork submitted becomes the property of the Council on Chemical Abuse and may be reproduced.
Please Note: If you need materials, COCA can provide poster boards, crayons, and markers. Email Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz mghinnershitz@cocaberks.org to request supplies.
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
Videos must be their own original work and focused on the theme “Gaming & Gambling: The House Always Wins.” Videos can be created with any platform. TikTok videos will be accepted through Facebook or website submission. Vertical or horizontal video is fine. The video can be up to 60 seconds in length.
HOW TO ENTER
For a complete entry into the contest, the following must be submitted:
Please note: If your video is too large to submit through the form provided, submit the form and you will be provided with a link to a Google folder.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Entries will be judged by a group of drug, alcohol and gambling professionals based on the following criteria:
First, second and third place winners will be selected for each age category. Winners will receive the following:
1st Place – $100 VISA Gift Card, poster on Billboards around Berks County, 4 Reading Fightin’ Phils Tickets, recognition online
2nd Place – $75 VISA Gift Card, 4 Reading Fightin’ Phils Tickets, recognition online
3rd Place – $50 VISA Gift Card, 4 Reading Fightin’ Phils Tickets, recognition online
Honorable Mention – $25 VISA Gift card, 4 Reading Fightin’ Phils Tickets, recognition online
Winning posters will also be displayed on the COCA website and social media.
April 9, 2021 – Deadline to submit poster artwork or video.
April 12–16, 2021 – Judging of posters. Winners will be notified during this time.
April 26, 2021 – Winners recognized online and through COCA’s website, social media and news outlets.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
With the growth of e-sports and competitive gaming, youth have been drawn to this rapidly expanding form of entertainment. From “loot boxes” to ‘leveling up,” the new dimensions of online gaming continue to captivate a growing audience of young people. Gaming can provide students a way to enjoy their time and connect with friends, however obsessive amounts of time spent on gaming can turn into an addiction for some individuals.
The problem begins when gaming begins to take precedent over other interests and daily activities. Online gaming, use of social media and gambling all affect the same part of the brain as drugs and alcohol. This part of the brain lights up when we are doing an activity we enjoy, but unfortunately our brain does not know when too much of something is bad for us. Research shows that youth who become obsessed with gaming while their brains are still developing may be at greater risk for developing long term problems. Seniors, with free time and limited social contact, can turn to gaming to deal with boredom. Addiction to gaming can impact persons of all ages with youth and seniors at greatest risk.
The Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) believes both youth and adults have a unique perspective on how to prevent the problems associated with online gaming and with this poster contest we’d like to hear from them.
Why does “the house always win” in gaming and gambling?
We all know this phrase. But this is more than a phrase. This is a simple, mathematically proven fact. All games, whether on-line, in a casino, or a lottery ticket, are designed to make a profit for the house. Regardless of the game type you pick to play, the “house” odds to win are always greater than yours.
The Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) believes both youth and adults have a unique perspective on how to prevent the problems associated with gaming and gambling. Through the poster and video contest, you can share your point of view of the risks of gaming and gambling using the theme “The House Always Wins.”
CLICK HERE to download a pdf of contest details. Please note that online submissions include an online release form and do not require a separate signed release form.
