New Jersey Lottery raises awareness about gifting responsibly this holiday season
Lottery Tickets Aren't Child's Play
NEW JERSEY – During this holiday season, the New Jersey Lottery (NJL) has partnered with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. (CCGNJ) to build awareness that lottery tickets are not an appropriate gift for minors.
This holiday season and throughout the year, the Lottery is deeply committed to the prevention of underage gambling.
“Lottery tickets are popular gift choices to slip into a card or include as a stocking stuffer during the holiday season, but we caution parents and other adults against gifting lottery tickets to children,” said NJL Executive Director James A. Carey, Jr. “New Jersey law requires lottery purchasers to be 18 years of age or older. While the law does not prohibit adults from giving tickets to minors, research suggests that this is not a good idea.”
To reinforce those messages, the Lottery and the CCGNJ have developed a video to urge residents to use good judgement when making holiday gift selections for children.
The video, which is available for viewing on the “Responsible Play” page of the Lottery’s website and on the CCGNJ’s website, explains the potential danger in involving minors in lottery play and other forms of gambling before they are old enough to understand the risks.
In addition to the video, the Lottery has also crafted a holiday advertising campaign that includes the messaging, “Tis the season to gift responsibly. Lottery is not child’s play. The New Jersey Lottery is a provider of fun and entertaining games that are not intended for anyone under the age of 18. Parents are urged to think twice before giving lottery tickets to children.”
According to Felicia Grondin, executive director of the CCGNJ, “The Lottery is a valuable partner with the Council on Compulsive Gambling in efforts to remind residents that lottery tickets are not an appropriate gift for minors. The Council urges parents to use sound judgement in making holiday gift selections for their children. Adult problem gamblers frequently report beginning gambling during childhood, often at ages 9-10. So this holiday season, if you choose to give a lottery ticket as a gift be sure to consider the age of the recipient. There is a reason why New Jersey has established minimum ages for gambling activities.”
