PRESS RELEASE

[name of lottery corporation] , THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING AND MCGILL UNIVERSITY COMBINE EFFORTS TO DISCOURAGE LOTTERY TICKETS AS GIFTS FOR UNDERAGE CHILDREN.

[name of city], [date] – Results from recent studies show a growing number of high school students reportedly receive one or more lottery tickets or scratch cards as gifts. This, coupled with the growing concern about adolescent problem gambling, prompted the [name of lottery], the National Council on Problem Gambling, the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University along with dozens of other lottery corporations around the globe to collaborate this holiday season to increase public awareness about the impact of giving lottery products as gifts to minors.

There is strong evidence suggesting that 70-80% of adolescents have gambled for money in the past year, approximately 30% report gambling on a weekly basis, and current problem gamblers report beginning gambling during childhood, ages 9-10.

NCPG executive director Keith Whyte noted: “In a recent study conducted at YaleUniversity by NCPG Board member Dr. Marc Potenza and colleagues, youngsters who received instant lottery tickets as a gift tended to begin gambling earlier in life – a possible risk factor for more severe gambling disorders later. The researchers also reported a stronger association between age of gambling onset and problem gambling severity among those who received lottery tickets.”

“We know that playing the lottery at a young age is inappropriate and can increase the potential for problem gambling later in life,” said Dr. JeffreyDerevensky, co-director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGillUniversity (Canada). “We welcome the collaborative efforts of [name of lottery] to help make everyone aware of this issue, as together we can make a difference in preventing underage gambling and gambling problems.”

INSERT QUOTE FROM LOTTERY OFFICIAL HERE – POSSIBLY PAIR WITH QUOTE FROM LOCAL PROBLEM GAMBLING COUNCIL

This year, the [name of lottery] is encouraging players to give responsibly. When giving a lottery product as a gift, please make sure you keep the person’s age in mind.

For more information contact:

  1. [Media contact information for lottery corporation]
  1. Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, Co-Director, International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, McGill University, (514) 398-4249,
  1. Jocelyn Wilcox, Program Administrator, National Council on Problem Gambling,

(202) 547-9206 or