The National Council on Problem Gambling's (NCPG) 2022 Gift Responsibly Campaign has seen a boost, with 63 lotteries and 53 non-lottery global organizations joining it. Participants will work hard to raise awareness about the associated risks of buying lottery tickets for children.
They did this in response to NCPG research, which showed that participation or exposure to gambling in early life increases the likelihood of a person developing problem gambling tendencies as an adult.
This came after the NCPG research indicated that ‘gambling exposure’ often occurred when children were bought lottery tickets by parents, unaware of the potentially negative consequences.
All 113 organizations will be working, throughout December, to educate communities about the risk of childhood exposure to gambling and promote responsible gambling practices. The campaign offers several levels of engagement for lotteries, with the higher echelons involving media commitments.
These media commitments could take the form of TV, radio public service, social media promotions, digital advertising, in-store signage or retailer training. Every activity is designed to convey one pervasive message: lottery products are not appropriate gifts for underage children.
NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte commented: “Youth problem gambling has emerged as a significant and growing public health issue. We are thrilled to have such support from the lottery community, as well as the non-lottery participants, for the 2022 Gift Responsibly Campaign as we work to minimize gambling-related harm.”
For the fifth year in a row, 100% of eligible US and Canadian lotteries and non-lottery organizations joined NCPG’s campaign for the promotion of responsible gambling. The campaign is endorsed by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the European Lotteries.
