Colorado Lottery tickets can be the perfect last-minute present or stocking stuffer for someone on your gift list. But not when that someone is a child.
That’s the message the Colorado Lottery is sending out this holiday season. Gaming officials are reminding the public that children and teenagers shouldn’t be on the receiving end of those gifts. It can lead to addiction tendencies later in life, said Tom Seaver, director of the Colorado Lottery.
“The message is pretty straight forward. We believe lottery tickets make great gifts, but only for adults.”
Gambling issues later in life evident among a growing number of young people
Despite being a longstanding tradition in many families, the gift of lottery tickets could be problematic for minors too young to legally play.
Colorado officials stress that exposure to gambling and wagering games at a young age could potentially help facilitate issues for that individual later in life.
While gifting lottery tickets to minors is perfectly legal, Colorado Lottery officials strongly discourage the practice because of the prevalence of gambling in the state. Gambling in Colorado “has been increasing every year, and the visibility of it has been increasing every year,” Seaver said.
Colorado promotes responsible gambling
It’s hardly the state’s first proactive measure to protect the betting public to the best of its abilities. Colorado consistently works to create a safe state for wagering. Education is a key part of that.
The state is also at the forefront of player safety and mental well-being. In September, the Colorado Division of Gaming partnered with the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado to launch a voluntary self-exclusion program for players throughout the state. It is meant to safeguard players through a self-imposed ban.
It also provides resources to players who may be struggling with gambling addiction. BetMGM and Kindbridge have teamed up to increase mental health services for problem gamblers in a first-of-its-kind pilot program offered to players on the self-exclusion list.
State officials have reiterated multiple times that responsible gambling in Colorado is an ongoing commitment that it takes seriously.
This lottery ticket reminder represents that commitment.
