Holiday Lottery Tickets Are Inappropriate Gifts for Teens, Responsible Gaming Advocates Remind
Posted on: December 5, 2025, 12:46h.
Last updated on: December 5, 2025, 12:54h.
- Lottery tickets make bad gifts for younger people
- That’s according to the National Council on Problem Gambling
- The advocacy is again running a campaign encouraging the public to Gift Responsibly
It’s the holiday season, and that means gift ideas are abound. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is again raising awareness that gifting lottery tickets to people not old enough to purchase them is irresponsible.
Each December, the NCPG, the only national nonprofit dedicated to mitigating gambling-related harms, organizes the Gift Responsibly Campaign. This year’s event is supported by a record 67 lotteries, 165 community partners, and two gaming companies in Bally’s and PrizePicks.
New for 2025 is the inclusion of “Too Young to Bet,” an initiative coinciding with the Gift Responsibly campaign that seeks to raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling.
While raising awareness about the dangers of buying or gifting lottery tickets to children is still the primary focus of the Campaign, NCPG has received requests for additional campaign graphics, factsheets, and resources about other types of gambling that may impact children,” the advocacy explained. “‘Too Young to Bet’ was added to make the Gift Responsibly Campaign more accessible to participants who may not find the gift-focused messaging applicable to their culture, country, or audience.”
The NCPG adds that while the campaign messaging may occasionally reference lottery products, the ultimate goal is to emphasize that no type of gambling is acceptable or safe for children.
Youth Gambling: Growing Concern
With the rise and expansion of sports betting, e-sports, and video game loot boxes, the NCPG says concerns about youth gambling have only exacerbated in recent years.
Young people are increasingly exposed to gambling long before they’re ready to understand the risks. Through the Gift Responsibly and Too Young to Bet campaigns, we’re equipping parents and educators with information about the importance of keeping gambling out of kids’ hands,” said Derek Longmeier, NCPG board president.
“This year’s record-breaking participation from lotteries, gambling operators, and community organizations around the world shows just how deeply this message resonates. Building strong awareness today helps safeguard the well-being of future generations,” Longmeier continued.
Level 3 lottery partners agree to produce their own press releases on the Gift Responsibly initiative, post at least 11 social media messages about responsible gaming and youth gambling, run a commercial or digital campaign about the program, and pitch an editorial to the media. Lottery 3 partners this year include the California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia lotteries.
Holiday Lottery Tickets
Most state lotteries across the country run special holiday-themed scratch-offs. States where online lottery games are allowed additionally run festive interactive offerings.
For example, the Virginia Lottery’s online games currently include Santa Claws, $CROOGE, and Spectacular Seasons. The commonwealth’s limited-time online scratchers include Gnome for the Holidays, Cashing Through the Snow, and Tis the Season.
The Virginia Lottery’s webpage and social media posts are currently accompanied by a “Gift Responsibly” logo with the tagline, “Lottery games are not for minors.”
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