As the holiday season unfolds, lottery products emerge as a popular choice for gifts, yet the Texas Lottery underscores the importance of refraining from gifting them to children. Marking its 15th year participating in the Gift Responsibly Campaign, organized annually by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University, the Texas Lottery is a dedicated Level 3 participant in this year’s campaign. Collaborating with lotteries and community organizations globally, the agency aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with giving lottery tickets to minors.

Gary Grief, Executive Director of the Texas Lottery, expressed pride in supporting the Gift Responsibly Campaign at the highest level of participation. He emphasized the commitment to social responsibility by encouraging responsible play and lottery gifting while providing resources for problem gambling. Grief highlighted the Texas Lottery’s longstanding dedication to responsible selling, reiterating that lottery products are intended for individuals aged 18 and older.

Research from the NCPG and McGill University underscores the potential long-term risks associated with early exposure to gambling during childhood. Lottery products, often given unwittingly by parents or other adults, serve as a common source of childhood gambling exposure.

Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director, emphasized the significance of raising awareness about the risks of youth gambling. Whyte commended all Gift Responsibly Campaign participants for their commitment and stressed the imperative need to ensure that lottery tickets are never considered appropriate gifts for children.

Throughout the holiday season, the Texas Lottery intensifies efforts to raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling. Multimedia messages are prominently displayed across retail locations, social media platforms, the Texas Lottery® App, its website, and through retailer and employee education messages.

Certified for its Responsible Gambling program by NCPG and the World Lottery Association, the Texas Lottery incorporates responsible gambling into its year-round marketing efforts and promotional materials. The messaging consistently reinforces responsible play, with reminders that individuals must be 18 years or older to purchase a lottery ticket. Over 20,000 lottery retailers statewide are trained and reminded not to sell lottery tickets to individuals under 18, and they are instructed not to redeem prizes for minors. Information on finding help for problem gambling is readily available on the Texas Lottery’s scratch and draw game tickets, website, social media, and at Texas Lottery® retail locations.

About the Texas Lottery

Beginning with the first ticket sold in 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated $38 billion in revenue for the state and distributed $83.8 billion in prizes to lottery players. Since 1997, the Texas Lottery has contributed $32.1 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas. As authorized by the Texas Legislature, certain Texas Lottery revenues benefit state programs, including the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Since we launched the first veterans-themed scratch-ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has contributed more than $224 million to programs supporting Texas veterans.

The Texas Lottery provides several entertaining games for lottery players, including Powerball®, Mega Millions®, Lotto Texas®, All or Nothing™, Texas Two Step®, Pick 3™, Daily 4™, Cash Five® and scratch ticket games. For more information, visit us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube or texaslottery.com. PLAY RESPONSIBLY.