Wagers & Whispers:

Place Your Bet On Community Art Contest

Wagers & Whispers is a creative contest for young people in Springfield to express how gambling affects real lives-whether it's personal, something you've seen, or something you imagine.

  • What happens before and after the bet?

  • Who wins and who doesn't?

We have 5 different prompts to choose from as inspiration for your submission. Check them out below!

Participate in our community art contest as part of our research project to share your creative perspective on how youth are affected by gambling through art and media.

We want to hear from you! Whether you’re an artist, writer, singer, musician, photographer or videographer. Show us what you’ve got with what you love!

Deadline: August 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

About the Contest

Who Can Enter

  • Springfield, MA residents ages 16–26

  • All experience and skill levels welcome! You don't have to be a trained or professional artist or creative to participate.

Number of Entries

You may enter as many times as you would like, each responding to one of the official prompts.

Participation Incentive

All eligible participants will receive one $25 gift card for their first submission only. You are welcome to submit multiple entries, but you will not receive additional gift cards for them. Once submissions are reviewed and verified by our team, eligible participants will receive their gift cards after the contest officially closes.

What You Can Submit

Each creative piece can be in any format that best expresses your idea:

  • Digital or hand-drawn visual art

  • Poetry or spoken word

  • Short videos or animations

  • Music, songs, or raps

  • Photography, design, or collage

  • Reels and TikToks

  • OR any creative format!!

    Reminder: You are submitting to a prompt, not a specific medium. The medium is up to you—what matters is how you express the theme.

Contest Voting and Winners

All confirmed eligible submissions will be organized into final voting categories and will be put up for community voting.

Community voting will take place shortly after the submission deadline. Community members will be asked to participate in the voting process to decide the contest finalists for the three tiers.

Up to 15 winners total will be awarded the finalist contest prizes across the final voting categories!

First Place: $250

Second Place: $150

Third place: $100

What is gambling?

Gambling is when someone risks something of value—money, time, energy—for a chance at a reward that can’t be guaranteed.

It can look like placing bets at a casino, buying lottery tickets, or playing fantasy sports for cash. But it also shows up in subtle ways—inside apps, video games, even arcade games that play with randomness.

Not all gambling is obvious, and not all of it is about money. It’s about chance, risk, and the emotional high—or low—that comes with not knowing what’s going to happen.

This contest invites you to reflect on how that feeling shows up in your world.

How to Submit

Make sure to read the Rules & Reminders section below!

  1. Click the “ENTER CONTEST HERE” button below or scan the QR code!

  2. Indicate that you agree to participate in the contest and answer a few questions

  3. Choose a prompt and upload your creative piece that responds to it

  4. As part of the submission process, you will be asked to include a short artist statement, responding to:

     “Why did you make this piece, and what does it mean to you?”

Choose a Prompt

Each submission should respond to one of these five official prompts.

Click on the prompt for details.

  • The game is always on.

    Explore how gambling has shifted into digital spaces—loot boxes, in-app purchases, and fantasy sports. Where does play end and risk begin?

  • I bet like they taught me.

    Tell the story of how gambling, survival, treatment, or risk-taking is passed down through family, society, or culture. What did you learn about gambling by watching others? Was treatment available, accessible, effective, talked about?

  • When the bet looks beautiful.

    Scratch tickets shimmer. Casinos sparkle. Influencers flex penthouses and yachts. Apps promise riches.

    Show how gambling can be wrapped in beauty—but what lies underneath?

  • The loop that never ends.

    Capture the feeling of chasing something: a win, a feeling, a “maybe this time.” What happens when it keeps spinning, but the urge to keep playing never stops?

  • Is this still me?

    Gambling doesn’t always take your money—it can take your reflection. Show how risk, pressure, or addiction changes who someone is.

Important Information

    • You may submit as many creative pieces as you’d like, each tied to a different prompt

    • Submissions must be your original creation

    • Submissions must follow common community guidelines: no hate speech, discrimination, or graphic violence

    Respect for Real Stories

    If your creative piece includes someone else’s story and/or visually shows them (a friend, family member, community member), get their permission first and respect how they would like to be a part of your creative piece. 

    Why: Protects privacy and keeps submissions safe for public display.

    If your entry includes a video or picture of another person:

    • You must get permission from that person by completing a written consent form that can be accessed HERE

    • You may be asked to provide us with their contact information

    Please read our Creation and Submission Guidelines for Privacy and Rights.

    File Limits & Formats

    • Images: JPG, PNG, or GIF under 50MB

    • Audio: MP3 or WAV under 50MB

    • Video: MP4 under 50MB

    Why: The submission system we use limits file sizes to 50 MB. Following these guidelines avoids large file issues when you go to submit.

    IMPORTANT: For non-digital media (like paintings, sculptures, or drawings), you must submit a clear image or video of the work.

    Make sure the full piece is visible, well-lit, and easy to view for judging and display purposes.

    AI-Use

    We want work created by you, not generated by AI or templates. Your final submission must be an original creation.

    Submission Edits Not Allowed After Deadline

    After the submission deadline (August 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET), submissions can’t be edited or swapped.

    Optional Accessibility Support

    If you need help uploading, typing your statement, or using tech, call or email us and we can work with you to find a solution. 

    Theresa Glenn: (413) 750-2065

    Email: gariproject413@gmail.com

  • This contest is part of a research project in partnership with UMass Amherst. Your participation is completely voluntary, and a consent form will be provided to you, which contains information about your rights as a research participant. By participating, you understand that you will have an opportunity to receive and review the consent form at the beginning of the submission process, and at any point, you retain the right to withdraw your participation from the research.

    By consenting to participate in the research and submitting to the contest, you’re giving permission for your work to be shared with the broader community online and/or in person, on GARI platforms such as social media and our website, and for research purposes as outlined in the research consent form.

Ready to enter?

Enter by clicking on the link or by scanning the QR Code!