Warning against providing minors with tickets by Canadian provincial government lotteries

As the Xmas season gets nearer, Canadian lottery clerks have sent out danger warnings against stuffing stockings with lottery tickets.

According to the latest survey held by McGill University, It seems that lottery tickets have evolved into a favorite Xmas stocking gift as they are proportionally inexpensive and provide the chance to win huge sums of cash, where almost a third of the tickets are bought and presented to underage population. 

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and Loto-Quebec, have been influenced by the survey and they have joined the McGill University researchers in pressing parents to prevent giving children Xmas gifts in the form of lottery tickets. 

This week, Don Pister, the OLG spokesperson, informed the Canadian media that only adults and not children should receive lottery tickets. And that this is one of the items which should be limited to a specific age group in society.

In awareness promotions, parents have been warned against the dangers of young people gambling, through the three gaming commissions' campaign launch.

Terrible results could be inflicted on the country's youth when gambling too young, as gaming specialists have warned.

Alissa Sklar, a senior researcher in McGill's International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors, claimed that cheap lottery tickets are well adapted for stuffing stockings, however, they can evoke possible difficulties and provide children with the incorrect concept. She added that for caregivers, parents and grandparents it's especially significant that they are aware that for those aged eighteen and under, scratch cards, lottery tickets and additional lottery features are unsuitable presents.

Lottery gambling when young can cause later gambling problems, McGill's researchers contend. Indicating research proposing, that young children who become used to gambling, increases the greater chance for addiction development.

According to Sklar, gambling has evolved into a norm. Unlike the radar warnings of smoking, drugs and alcohol, parents are in this case less concerned for their children. In fact, parents who emulate this provide these presents, are really claiming that it's definitely not dangerous for you so don't be concerned.  

In the majority of provincial authorities, lottery tickets vended or purchased by the underage is unlawful. Sklar claims, however, that around one third of Canadian children have accepted presents in the form of scratch cards or lottery tickets.

Sklar is alarmed by the amount, especially when it seems that the number of young people involved in gambling is rising and each week as much as one third of Canadian youths gamble.

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