Campaign Urges Adults: Lottery Tickets Are Not Gifts for Kids

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University have launched the 2023 Gift Responsibly Campaign. This initiative, in its sixth year, is supported by 66 lotteries and 84 community organizations worldwide. Their unified message emphasizes that lottery products are not suitable gifts for children.

Research data highlighted by NCPG indicates that exposing children to gambling increases the likelihood of problem gambling in adulthood. The campaign aims to educate adults about the risks associated with gifting lottery tickets to children and teenagers.

Backed by the World Lottery Association and European Lotteries, the campaign is endorsed by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. Lotteries across the United States, Canada, and internationally, along with non-lottery organizations, are actively participating in the initiative.

Throughout November and December, participating organizations will conduct community education programs. Strategies include in-store signage, employee training, and social media messages, collectively raising awareness about the unsuitability of lottery products as gifts for children.

Keith Whyte, NCPG’s executive director, emphasized the campaign's significance during the holiday season. Adults are urged to refrain from gifting lottery tickets to children, and the campaign stands as a global effort to promote responsible gambling practices.