The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC) and its ticket lottery operator, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), are working with the McGill University International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors to dissuade parents and other adults from purchasing lottery tickets for children.

 

With the holiday season right around the corner, many parents and family members are searching to find fun and exciting gift ideas to finish up their last minute shopping, but while lottery products such as Scratch’nWin tickets make great stocking stuffers for adults, they are not appropriate for children.

 

“We know that 13% of 15-17-year-olds in Nova Scotia participate in gambling through lottery tickets. And the majority of these children say they get these tickets from their parents,” says Marie Mullally, President and CEO of NSGC. “As a world leader in prevention programming, it is important that we send a strong message out to parents: it’s not safe for minors to participate in any gambling activity and they shouldn’t be doing it, no matter what the season.”

 

Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, Director of the McGill University International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors agrees. “We know that playing the lottery at a young age can increase the potential for problem gambling later in life. This holiday, we are once again urging that children and teens should not be given lottery products as gifts.”

 

Dr. Derevensky’s team is involved in a variety of initiatives aimed directly at addressing youth gambling problems, including a new website where young people can chat anonymously about their gambling problems with trained professionals. The Internet helpline is available daily between 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Atlantic Time, at www.gamtalk4teens.org.

 

It is clear that parents and caregivers offer children influential role models of responsible gambling behavior. This may be the best holiday present you can offer them.

 

NSGC and ALC are also working to ensure the awareness message is heard through inclusion on digital signage at ticket retail locations, a written message on all lottery tickets, a letter to the editor from both Marie Mullally and Michelle Carinci, and prevention messages on both the NSGC and ALC websites.

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