Maryland Lottery Urges “Gift Responsibly”: Lottery Tickets Are Not for Kids

The “Gift Responsibly” Campaign

The Maryland Lottery is joining forces with lotteries across the U.S. to support the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) “Gift Responsibly” campaign. The initiative aims to educate the public about the potential harm gambling can have on children.

To reinforce this message, the Maryland Lottery has implemented “18+” signage in retail locations and on self-service vending machines. John Martin, Director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming, emphasizes that while lottery tickets can be a fun gift for adults, many people may not realize the documented impact early exposure to gambling can have on children.

According to the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, children exposed to gambling at a young age are more likely to struggle with controlling such behaviors as they grow older.

Jasmine Countess, Director of Responsible Gaming at Maryland Lottery and Gaming, warns that gifting lottery tickets to minors could increase their risk of developing a gambling problem later in life. “Although it may not seem significant on the surface, giving Lottery tickets to minors can actually increase their risk for developing a gambling problem later in life. Adults should not encourage or facilitate underage gambling, and should remember that Lottery tickets are not the right gift for kids.”

Why Lottery Tickets Are Not a Good Gift for Children

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 15% of Maryland high school students reported gambling within the past year. Approximately 4% of adults in Maryland struggle with problem gambling, with the percentage among youth likely being even higher.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin reiterated the Lottery’s commitment to ensuring its games and marketing materials do not appeal to children “We’re very careful about reviewing the games we launch and the images we use in our marketing efforts to make sure we aren’t appealing to children. Lottery tickets are a great gift idea for adults, but a lot of people may not know about the documented impact that exposure to gambling can have on children.”

The Gift Responsibly initiative is particularly crucial during the holiday season, when parents are searching for gift ideas for their kids. It’s important to consistently highlight that lottery tickets, while entertaining for adults, remain a form of gambling and are not suitable for anyone under 18.