Why states are urging players to rethink lottery gifts this holiday

As people get ready to start their holiday shopping and build out those Christmas lists, lotteries across the country are coming together with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to push one message: lottery tickets are gifts for adults, not kids. The annual Gift Responsibly and Too Young to Bet campaigns work to curb youth exposure to gambling at a time when brightly decorated instant tickets often end up in stockings.

A unified campaign across the country

This is a campaign and message that resonates with state lotteries across the country. In a press release, Michigan Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli said the agency is expanding its role this season with social media messaging, digital ads, retailer displays, and responsible gaming reminders printed directly on draw-game tickets.

“Lottery tickets make great gifts for the adults on your list,” she said, “and should not be gifted to children.”

The Washington Lottery, which earned the nation’s highest responsible gambling certification last year, is also amplifying its holiday efforts. The agency is partnering with the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling (ECPG), the NCPG, and the state’s Health Care Authority to warn parents that early gambling exposure, even if it appears harmless, can create patterns that last well into adulthood.

What are states doing this holiday season?

There has been a national push to gift more responsibly over the past few years. Here is how some states are using the holiday season to reinforce their responsible gambling and gifting responsibly standards:

• The New York Lottery is using its statewide retailer network to remind players that all lottery products are 18 or older, and by gifting tickets to minors, they are violating state policy.
• The Pennsylvania Lottery is adding responsible-play banners to its website and mobile app, which sees heavy traffic during holiday scratch-off launches.
• The Ohio Lottery is using radio and TV spots to highlight the link between early exposure and long-term risks, especially for sports-obsessed teens.
• For the Virginia Lottery, they are sharing tips for parents and what they can do this holiday season to help with this cause.
• The Florida Lottery is training retailers to offer reminders at checkout as holiday scratch-off sales go up.
• The Georgia Lottery is using in-store video displays and jackpot signage to place responsible gifting reminders.

All of these states frame the message the same way: the holidays may be fun, but they’re also a moment when boundaries slip. Some well-meaning adults unintentionally introduce kids to gambling.

Youth gambling data

To help support the need for a bigger focus on these gift responsibly campaigns, new data was released by the NCPG and ECPG:

• 159.6 million youth under 18 have gambled on commercial platforms in the last year, despite age restrictions.
• Children are “particularly vulnerable” to the link between gambling and sporting events.
• While these younger generations are clearly tech-savvy, their 1 in 6 parents say they wouldn’t know if their child was betting online.
• Young males are more likely than young females to meet the criteria for problem gambling.
• Of adult gamblers, two-thirds said being exposed to gambling as children contributed to their behavior later in life.

Experts say the takeaway is simple: the earlier the exposure, the higher the risk.

Resources and support

If you are looking for support or resources, most state lotteries continue to promote helpline services like 1-800-GAMBLER, which is available 24/7 for confidential support. Washington also has its own helpline, which will connect callers to no-cost or low-cost counseling options.

As the gift-giving season ramps up, lotteries aren’t asking players to stop celebrating. They’re just asking them to celebrate responsibly, and to keep lottery products where they belong: in the hands of adults only.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.