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'Tis The Season for Gifting Responsibly

'Tis The Season for Gifting Responsibly

At this gift-giving time of year, lottery scratch off tickets are a popular and easy gift to slip into a stocking or a present. Holiday lottery tickets are designed to be festive, boasting bright colors and clever themes, and creating conversation and competition among family members who receive them.

Many view gifting lottery tickets as harmless fun for any age that adds a touch of excitement in the anticipation of possibly winning money. However, research shows that children who gamble – including the use of lottery scratch off tickets – are four times more likely to become problem gamblers (Felsher, et al., 2010).

Lottery Tickets Aren't Child's Play

There are reasons why the minimum age is 18 to buy a lottery ticket in the State of Maryland:

This season, gift responsibly – give a child a gift, not a ticket. Avoid gifting lottery tickets to any child under 18. And have the conversation with your family about the risks of gambling.

If you, or any one you know, is struggling with problems due to gambling behavior, call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for assistance to resources on the road to recovery.

FOR PROVIDERS / ORGANIZATIONS / PREVENTIONISTS:

2021 Gift Responsibly Awareness Campaign:

A Guide for Behavioral Health Providers and Preventionists to Promote Responsible Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevention

This guide was created to encourage you to promote Awareness within your organization and your community about responsible lottery gifting, the risks of gambling and the resources available for help and hope.

Holiday Awareness Materials for Download

Order a variety of awareness materials at no cost!

The Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling offers a wide variety of materials at no cost for your organization and community to promote: awareness of gambling risks; responsible gambling practices; signs of problem gambling/gambling addiction; and resources for treatment and recovery.
Free

Sources:

Felsher, Jennifer.  Lottery Participation by Youth with Gambling Problems:  Are Lottery Tickets a Gateway to Other Gambling Venues?  International Gambling Studies, November 2004, 4 (2): 109-125.  DOI: 10.1080/14459790412331296956

Maryland Department of Health, Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey (YRBS/YTS) 2018-2019.  https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/ccdpc/Reports/Pages/YRBS2018.aspx

National Council on Problem Gambling.   Responsible Gambling Lottery Campaign. https://www.ncpgambling.org/

Tracy, J K, Maranda, L, Scheele, C.  Statewide Gambling Prevalence in Maryland: 2017.  University of Maryland, Baltimore funded by the Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration. https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/media/SOM/Departments/EpidemiologyandPublicHealth/MD-Problem-Gambling/Docs/2017-Gambling-Prevalence-Report-Final-rev-1.21.18.pdf