The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is asking B.C. residents not to gift minors lottery products for Christmas.

BCLC’s Director of Player Health Ryan McCarthy said the crown corporation wants to remind adults that scratch-and-win tickets can be a gateway for children to develop riskier gambling behaviour later in life.

“Scratch & Win tickets can make great stocking-stuffers for the adults in your life, but they’re not for kids,” stressed McCarthy. “The research shows that children who have early encounters with gambling are four times more likely to develop riskier gambling behavior as they grow up.

“While people are out shopping for those last-minute gifts, BCLC wants adults to be aware of the potential risks associated with gifting lottery products to children and to consider safer alternatives.”

McCarthy added that parents should have conversations with their kids about the potential risks associated with gambling and to take proactive measures including:

• Monitoring kids for gambling-related lifestyle changes, such as developing a positive attitude towards gambling or a preoccupation with video games or streaming sites.
• Being a positive role model by exhibiting safer gambling behaviour and talking about the risks.
• Limiting exposure, perhaps by monitoring kids’ online activities and discouraging engagement with gambling content.
• Explaining how gambling is based on chance.

As part of its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), BCLC is sharing its #GiftSmart message through reminders at its 3,400 lottery retailers in B.C. as well as on social media.

BCLC ran a similar campaign last year, when it noted that statistical research indicates that approximately 10% to 14% of adolescents are susceptible to developing gambling-related problems and 4% to 6% of youths aged between 12 and 17 are currently affected by problematic gambling behaviours.

As part of its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), BCLC is again sharing its #GiftSmart message through reminders at its 3,400 lottery retailers in B.C. as well as on social media.