Who doesn’t love to find a scratch-and-win ticket at the bottom of a stocking on Christmas morning?
Despite being a joy to give, the BC Lottery Corporaton (BCLC) is reminding adults that lottery tickets, even the ever-so-fun scratch-and-win tickets, are not suitable gifts for minors at any time of the year, especially during the holidays.
“Research shows that early childhood gambling experiences, including those with lottery products, can be a risk factor for gambling problems later in life,” said BCLC Director of Player Health Dr. Jamie Wiebe in a news release.
“We encourage everyone to be #GiftSmart and give lottery tickets as gifts only to adults.”
Instead of giving kids scratch-and-win tickets, BCLC encourages parents to start a conversation with their children about the risks associated with gambling.
Throughout the holiday season, BCLC is reminding everyone not to stuff kids’ stockings with lottery products of any kind.
BCLC started its annual #GiftSmart campaign earlier this month, a public-information series that encourages responsible play and gift-giving through online, radio and social media outreach, as well as through digital signage at 3,500 lottery retailers across the province.
The campaign is in partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling.
