‘Tis the Season for Responsible Gifting

As the holiday season approaches, lottery products will be enclosed in greeting cards and stuffed in stockings. Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation would like to remind all adults how important it is that lottery tickets are not gifted to minors. Although lottery products, like scratch tickets or break open games, might seem like an innocent gift, early gambling experiences are a risk factor for later problem gambling.

Gambling is a common activity for too many adolescents. A large number of young people report that their first gambling experience occurs around 9 to 11 years of age and 80 per cent of highschool aged students reported to have gambled for money during the past year.

This holiday message has been shared for over 10 years and is part of an annual campaign developed by the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University and the National Council on Problem Gambling to raise awareness around the risks of underage lottery play.

Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation and Atlantic Lottery work year-round to ensure lottery products are not sold to minors. The legal age is prominently displayed on lottery products, ticket lottery retailers participate in mandatory responsible gambling training and both organizations work diligently to verify that retailers comply with laws. The gaming corporation also works with Advertising Standards Canada to ensure its advertising guidelines reflect industry best practices to prevent advertising to youth.

Quotes:

“As parents, caregivers and family members, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children are not participating in lottery games before they are of age. Although lottery games may seem like a fun and innocent gift for kids, lottery tickets are not child’s play.”

– - Bob MacKinnon, president and CEO, Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation

Quick Facts:

• Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation is a Crown corporation responsible for managing the business of gaming in the province
• the gaming corporation returns 100 per cent of profits to government programs and good causes that are important to Nova Scotians