Lottery products – great to give but not to minors

Minors Awareness Campaign

Purchasing, scratching and cashing in lottery products are gambling activities, suitable for adults only and not something minors should be encouraged or invited to participate in.

Restricting minors’ access to all forms of gambling is a joint responsibility of government, licensees and the community.

Since lottery tickets were first introduced in Alberta in 1975, the AGLC has had a policy prohibiting the sale, scratching or redeeming of lottery ticket products to or by minors.

Research initiated by AADAC (now Alberta Health Services) in 2008 (The Alberta Youth Experience Survey – TAYES) showed that close to half of all Alberta students participate in some form of gambling, with scratch tickets being the most common activity of choice. The research also indicated that the earlier an individual begins gambling, the more likely he or she is to experience problems with gambling later in life.