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Scratch cards “not appropriate”
stocking fillers for children at Christmas
14.11.19
PEOPLE should not buy
lottery tickets or scratch cards for children this
Christmas as it may pose a risk factor for problem
gambling in adulthood.
The National Lottery is introducing a Gift
Responsibly Campaign and has warned that early
gambling experiences, including lottery play “may be
a risk factor for later problem gambling”.
The new Christmas initiative is part of a global
campaign supported by the World Lotteries
Association and backed by international research on
problem gambling.
“Lottery tickets are not child’s play. Early
gambling experiences, including lottery play, may be
a risk factor for later problem gambling,” the
National Lottery said in a statement.
“The Gift Responsibly Campaign provides a timely
reminder to parents and other adults that lottery
tickets and scratch cards are not appropriate gifts
for children under the age of 18.” |
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Irish players will
begin to see the new ‘Gift Responsibly’ logo on
Christmas-themed products such as Millionaire
Raffle, at the point of sale in shops and on the
company’s festive advertisements.
A National Lottery spokesperson said: “We have
officially launched our Gift Responsibly campaign
for the first time this year ahead of the gifting
period to raise awareness about the risks of
underage lottery/scratch card play (and) by
reminding adults that gifting lottery products to
children under 18 is not appropriate.
“In addition, all of our Christmas product range,
scratch cards and Millionaire Raffle, will include
the Gift Responsibly logo and messaging while the
weekly second chance Christmas Bonus Draws are
strictly prohibited for players under 18.”
A Department of Health survey released earlier this
year showed that one-in-10 Irish children are
gambling illegally on scratch cards, lottery tickets
and horse or dog racing.
Meanwhile, a mystery shopping exercise by the
Regulator of the National Lottery found that
four-in-10 retail outlets had sold scratch cards to
minors. |
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