Texas Lottery Warns: Don’t Give Lottery Tickets to Kids This Christmas

Christmas is rapidly approaching and you're probably gathering gift ideas but experts are warning about one very popular gift that you shouldn't give to children.

This year alone, we've had several folks in East Texas and all across the state win millions of dollars through the Texas Lottery with its many games including Powerball and scratch-off tickets.

Lottery tickets are known as great gifts during the holidays and some families like to give out tickets to kids for Christmas to give them a chance to win some money but according to research from the National Library of Medicine, these gifts could have a negative effect on your child.

Why Is Giving Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets to Children Dangerous?

According to the study, purchasing lottery tickets for minors poses several significant problems. Allowing minors to engage in gambling activities, including lottery ticket purchases, can lead to early exposure to gambling behaviors, increasing the likelihood of developing gambling-related problems later in life. Studies suggest that early exposure can normalize gambling and heighten risks of addiction, impulsive decision-making, and financial mismanagement.

Also, minors may lack the mental and emotional maturity to fully understand the odds and consequences of gambling, making them more prone to developing unhealthy gambling habits. The accessibility and social acceptance of lotteries can further add to normalizing gambling for young individuals, potentially making a pathway to more severe gambling-related issues.

To help prevent these risks, regulatory measures are needed to ensure strict enforcement of age restrictions on lottery ticket sales and broader public education campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of gambling among youth. For more detailed insights, refer to the full study here.

The Texas Lottery Is Marking its 16^th year of participating in the Gift Responsibly Campaign.

This campaign is annually organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University with the Texas Lottery.

Research from NCPG and McGill University stresses that early exposure to gambling during childhood increases the likelihood of developing a gambling problem later in life.

Lottery products, often given by a parent or other adult who is likely unaware of the associated risks is a common source of childhood gambling exposure.

During the campaign, the agency is collaborating with lotteries and community organizations globally on raising awareness about the risks associated with giving lottery tickets to children.

Certified for its Responsible Gambling program by NCPG and the World Lottery Association, the Texas Lottery integrates responsible gambling in its year-round marketing efforts and promotional materials. Reinforcing responsible play, the messaging consistently reminds consumers that one must be 18 years or older to purchase a lottery ticket.

With the advent of legalized sports gambling and daily fantasy being pumped around the clock,  Now, more than ever, its insisted that lottery tickets are never appropriate gifts for children.