Scratch & Win
Though they may look fun, nostalgic and family friendly, it's important to remember that Scratch & Win tickets and other lottery products are still a form of gambling and meant for adults 18 and over.
Remember that Scratch & Win tickets are not for kids.
GiftSmart this holiday season
Research shows that the earlier an individual begins to gamble, the greater chance they have of developing gambling problems later in life. This holiday season, please remember that the best gifts for children don't include lottery products. GameSense reminds you to #giftsmart and keep gambling products out of children's stockings.
Were you thinking of buying a Scratch & Win ticket for a kid? Here's some alternative gift ideas sure to bring joy this holiday season:
- A subscription to a kid-friendly magazine
- A Polaroid-style instant camera
- A board game or card game
- Retro activity toys like juggling balls, a Rubik's cube or yo-yo
- A jigsaw puzzle of a pet or a favourite photo
- Mini LEGO kits, toy cars or dolls
- A backpack or pencil case
- A DIY dessert-making kit
- Skipping rope, sidewalk chalk or bubbles
- A gift card to their favourite book store
When celebrating the holidays or any other special occasion, please #giftsmart and remember that Scratch & Win, like all gambling products, are for adults 18 years of age and older - never for kids. GameSense encourages adults to have conversations with the kids in their lives to communicate the risks associated with gambling. Please visit the Resources for Families page for more information, communication tips and resources to support these conversations.
What does it mean to #Giftsmart?
Since 2008, AGLC has run an annual Minors Awareness Campaign around the holidays to discourage the gifting of lottery products to those under the age of 18. Though the retail sales of lottery products to minors is prohibited, lottery and Scratch & Win tickets
have often been thought of as traditional stocking stuffers for many Albertan families. Times are changing and research into gambling related harms is identifying that youth exposed to gambling at an early age are more susceptible to developing
concerning gambling behaviors later in life.
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