Washington, DC – Research shows that the earlier the exposure to gambling in childhood, the more likely a person is to develop a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through a lottery product given by an adult who is likely unaware of the associated risks.
In response, 66 lotteries and 84 community organizations from around the world have joined the 2023 Gift Responsibly Campaign. Presented by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University, the campaign aims to spotlight the risks associated with purchasing lottery tickets for children.
Throughout November and December, participating organizations will work to educate communities about the dangers of gifting lottery tickets to children, raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling and promote responsible gambling practices for those of legal age who choose to gamble. The campaign offers a tiered approach for lotteries, with increasing levels of participation. Participant activities may include but are not limited to public service announcements, social media messaging, digital advertising, in-store signage and retailer training, all united by a singular message: lottery products are not appropriate gifts for children.
Jeffrey Derevensky, Director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours, said, “With the growing social acceptability and opportunities available for gambling on an international level, it is important to remember that even young people may experience gambling-related problems. The Gift Responsibly Campaign is a great reminder for adults not to gift lottery tickets to minors.”
For the sixth consecutive year, 100% of eligible U.S. and Canadian lotteries, and numerous international lotteries and non-lottery organizations have joined the campaign. Endorsed by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, the World Lottery Association, and the European Lotteries, the campaign stands as a collaborative, international effort to safeguard the well-being of young people.
“As we embrace the spirit of giving during the holiday season, it’s crucial to recognize that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children or teens. We applaud the numerous lotteries and community organizations for joining the campaign to amplify this vital message, fostering public awareness and understanding of the potential risks associated with youth gambling. The Gift Responsibly campaign stands out as one of the largest international responsible gambling awareness campaigns, underlining our collective commitment to safeguarding youth and promoting responsible gambling practices worldwide,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director.
Participants of the 2023 Gift Responsibly Campaign:
Lottery Level 3:
• Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
• Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
• California State Lottery
• Colorado Lottery
• Connecticut Lottery Corporation
• Florida Lottery
• Hoosier Lottery (Indiana)
• Illinois Lottery
• Lotto New Zealand
• Michigan Bureau of State Lottery
• New Jersey Lottery
• New York State Gaming Commission – Division of Lottery
• Office of Lottery and Gaming (DC Lottery) • Ohio Lottery Commission
• Oregon Lottery
• Pennsylvania Lottery
• Texas Lottery Commission
• The Mississippi Lottery Corporation
• Virginia Lottery
Lottery Level 2:
• British Columbia Lottery Corporation
• Delaware Lottery
• Hrvatska Lutrija d.o.o. (National Lottery of Croatia)
• Kentucky Lottery
• Lotterywest (Lotteries Commission of Western
Australia)
• Massachusetts State Lottery
• Minnesota Lottery
• Missouri Lottery
• North Carolina Education Lottery
• New Mexico Lottery
• Rhode Island Lottery
• South Carolina Education Lottery
Lottery Level 1:
• Arizona Lottery
• Atlantic Lottery
• Bulgarian Sports Totalizator
• Georgia Lottery Corporation
• Idaho Lottery
• Iowa Lottery
• Kansas Lottery
• Loteria de la Provincia de Cordoba Sociedad Del
Estado (Cordova)
• Loterija Slovenije (Slovenia)
• Loto-Québec
• Oklahoma Lottery
• Ontario Lottery and Gaming
• Österreichische Lotterien GmbH (Austrian Lotteries)
• Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited
• Sask Lotteries (Saskatchewan)
• SAZKA (Czech Republic)
• South Dakota Lottery
• Szerencsejáték Zrt. (Hungary)
• Tennessee Education Lottery
• TIPOS, národná lotériová spoločnosť, a. s.
• Lottotech Ltd (Mauritius)
• Louisiana Lottery Corporation
• Maine Lottery
• Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
• Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency
• Montana Lottery
• Nebraska Lottery
• New Hampshire Lottery Commission
• Nova Scotia Gaming
(Slovak Republic)
• Ukrainian National Lottery
• Vermont Lottery
• Washington’s Lottery
• West Virginia Lottery
• Western Canada Lottery Corporation
• Wisconsin Lottery
• WyoLotto (Wyoming)
Non-Lottery Participants:
• AdCare Educational Institute of Maine
• Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County
• Amplify
• Arkansas Problem Gambling Council
• Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and
Alcohol Commission
• Association House of Chicago
• Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships
• Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
• Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission
• CCSL Prevention Services
• CHC Addiction Services
• Chesterfield Mental Health Support Services
• Chestnut Health Systems
• Choices Treatment Center
• City of New Britain Local Prevention Council
• City of Philadelphia Department of
Behavioral Health and Intellectual
Disability Services
• City of Virginia Beach
• Community and Family Resources
• COMPASS Family and Community
Services
• Compass Mark
• Council on Alcoholism and
Addictions of the Finger Lakes
• Council on Chemical Abuse
• Council on Compulsive Gambling of
Pennsylvania
• Cumberland Mountain Community
Services
• Doura-Schawohl Consulting
• East Central Ohio Educational
Service Center
• Eastern Shore Community Services
Board
• Evergreen Council on Problem
Gambling
• Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling
• G3 Group Agency
• Hanover Community Services Board
• Highlands Community Services
• Hour House
• IGT
• Illinois Association for Behavioral
Health
• Illinois Council on Problem Gambling
• Illinois Department of Human
Services – Division of Substance Use
Prevention and Recovery
• Illinois Helpline for Opioids and
Other Substances
• Indiana Council on Problem
Gambling
• Iroquois Mental Health Center
• Jackpocket
• Kansas Department for Aging and
Disability Services
• Lake Geauga Recovery Center
• Lakeshore Regional Entity
• Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol
Commission
• Lotto.com
• Maine Council on Problem Gambling
• Maryhaven
• Maryland Center of Excellence on
Problem Gambling
• Mason County Family Resource
Network
• Massachusetts Council on Gaming
and Health
• Michigan Gaming Control Board
• Minnesota Alliance on Problem
Gambling
• New York Council on Problem
Gambling
• Nicasa Behavioral Health Services
• Northwestern Community Services
Board
• Ohio Department of Mental Health
& Addiction Services
• Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming
• Piedmont Community Services
• Pollard Banknote Limited
• Prevention Action Alliance
• Problem Gambling Help Network of
West Virginia
• Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
• Recovery Resources
• Scientific Games
• Southwest Kansas Problem
Gambling Taskforce
• Stark County Mental Health &
Addiction Recovery
• Sunrise Community for Recovery
and Wellness
• The LCADA Way
• Townhall II
• Trumbull County Mental Health andRecovery Board
• United Way of Seneca County
• United Way Problem Gambling Coalition
• University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Valley Community Services Board
• Vermont Department of Mental Health
• Virginia Council on Problem Gambling
• Virginia Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Services –
Office of Recovery Services
• Washington Drug and Alcohol
Commission
• Way Back Inn
• Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling
• Wyoming Council on Problem Gambling
• Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug
Services
• Your Life Iowa
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