As Texans enjoy many opportunities for gift giving, the Texas Lottery is urging consumers not to give lottery tickets to children. For the 13th year, the Texas Lottery is partnering with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University to raise awareness of the risks of underage lottery play by reminding lottery consumers to “Gift Responsibly. Lottery Tickets Aren’t Child’s Play.” In Texas, players must be at least 18 years of age to purchase lottery tickets and retailers are not authorized to redeem tickets for anyone under the age of 18.
“Lottery products can be a great gift or stocking stuffer, but we want to remind shoppers that Texas Lottery® games are not an appropriate gift for individuals younger than 18 years old,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery. “We are proud to support NCPG and McGill University’s 2021 Gift Responsibly campaign with organizations around the world, as we remain committed to our social responsibility of urging our players to play and gift responsibly not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year.”
According to research by NCPG and McGill University, early gambling experiences are a risk factor for later problem gambling. In addition, adult problem gamblers report an earlier onset of gambling, often beginning between ages 10-19.
Throughout December, the “Gift Responsibly. Lottery Tickets Aren’t Child’s Play.” message will be featured on the Texas Lottery’s social media accounts, website, retailer newsletter and in-store electronic messaging. Educational messages regarding the risks of underage gambling will be sent to retailers and employees throughout the month.
Certified for its Responsible Gambling program by NCPG and the World Lottery Association, the Texas Lottery emphasizes responsible gambling in its marketing efforts and promotional materials throughout the year, all of which encourage responsible play and remind consumers that you must be 18 or older to purchase a lottery ticket. More than 20,000 lottery retailers across the state also are trained and reminded that lottery tickets should not be sold to or prizes redeemed by anyone under the age of 18. Information on how to find help for problem gambling is available on Texas Lottery’s games, website, social media and advertising.