BCLC reminds players against giving scratch-off gaming gifts to children
Selling lottery products to those under 19 is illegal in British Columbia.
Key Points
- The BCLC will share its #GiftSmart message with 3,400 retailers throughout the province
- The regulator has partnered with the National Council on Program Gambling
The BCLC has released a public reminder to British Columbian players to “gift responsibly” and leave the scratch off gaming gifts for adults.
The regulators said in a statement, “With the holiday season in full swing, BCLC is reminding British Columbians to gift responsibly and scratch lottery products from their shopping lists for kids.”
BCLC Director of Player Health Ryan McCarthy said the organization seeks to educate adults on the potential risks of giving kids scratch offs as gift.
He commented, “Scratch & Win tickets can make great stocking stuffers for the adults in your life, but they’re not for kids. 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.
UBC Director for Gambling Research Dr. Luke Clark said, “With the convergence of gaming and gambling, youth are becoming more exposed to gambling content in online spaces like streaming sites, where creators are able to live-stream their own gambling, usually while playing online slots and instant games.
Good to know: It is against the law in British Columbia to sell lottery products to players who are younger than 19
“Our research at the UBC Centre for Gambling shows that a higher frequency of watching online gambling streams is associated with a more positive attitude towards gambling and a high intention to gamble in the future.”
The BCLC has teamed up with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to advance its #GiftSmart message during the holiday season. The organization said it will share the responsible gifting message with 3,400 retailers throughout the province.
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