With only a few days to go before Christmas, and many people still on the lookout for last-minute gifts, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and its team of dedicated GameSense Advisors are reminding adults that it’s okay to be a Grinch when it comes to removing lottery products from kids’ shopping lists and stockings.
“We’re working hard to get this very important message out to adults that lottery products should never be gifted to kids,” says Jamie Ferguson, GameSense Advisor at Cascades Casino Kamloops.
Research shows that early participation in, or exposure to, gambling in childhood can lead to the likelihood of developing a gambling problem later in life, and that the average problem gambler started gambling at age 10. Studies also show that 10 to 14 per cent of adolescents are at risk for developing a problem with gambling, while four to six per cent of youth ages 12–17 are presently impacted by problem gambling.
That’s why Ferguson, one of 44 BCLC GameSense Advisors available to players at casinos and community gaming centres across B.C. as well as through telephone and live chat, is also encouraging parents to have conversations with their kids about gambling.
“It can be as simple as explaining to a child during a visit to an amusement park that just because money was paid to get a chance to win a stuffed animal, it doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to win,” she says.
Those under the age of 18 are not allowed to purchase lottery tickets of any kind in B.C., and they are not allowed to claim a prize, but it is not illegal to give lottery tickets to children. Although lottery products such as scratch and win tickets and games might seem like a fun stocking stuffer for kids at this time of year, BCLC reminds adults that lottery products should only be given to those aged 19 and older.
BCLC is offering a few tips to parents to help them begin the conversation about gambling with their children:
- Tailor the conversation to your child’s age and interests. For example, if they like video games, talk to them about loot boxes and how the outcome is random, and the risks that they can pose.
- Tell them about the hidden signs of a problem, like hiding debt or skipping classes.
- Lead by example; kids learn from parents.
Learn more about how to be #GiftSmart at www.gamesense.com, which includes resources for families including tools, ideas, and further information for parents.