HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – It’s the time of gifts and gift-giving, and the Virginia Lottery is reminding shoppers it is also the time to remember to gift responsibly.
The Virginia Lottery and the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VCPG) are reminding everyone that lottery tickets are never an appropriate gift for anyone younger than 18. In fact, it is against state law to give lottery tickets to minors.
“There have been numerous studies that show that the earlier a person starts gambling — the earlier that a youngster is exposed to gambling — the greater the likelihood that that person, when they grow up, could have a gambling problem. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to remember the age of a person who’s gambling,” Virginia Lottery spokesperson John Hagerty said.
Along with not gifting these items, Hagerty said children under 18 should never be involved in gambling that adults are partaking in, even if it’s deemed “helping.”
Below are tips from the Virginia Lottery website:
It is the 17th year that the Virginia Lottery has teamed up with VCPG, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University and other lottery corporations around the globe to increase public awareness this holiday season about the impact of giving lottery products as gifts to children.
“Playing responsibly is very important here at the lottery, and we want to encourage responsible play and we want to raise awareness of gambling addiction. Gambling for most people is a harmless experience, but for some people, gambling can be addictive and very dangerous, and we want to shine a light on that,” Hagerty said.
The Virginia Lottery has a ”Play Responsibly” section of its website with more tips and resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, you can call the helpline at 1-888-532-3500.
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