B.C. parents warned against gifting children lottery tickets at Christmas

Several scratch-off lottery cards are spread out over a table in this undated stock image. (Erik Mclean/Pexels.com)

Scratch cards in stockings might seem like an exciting Christmas idea, but for those who are under the legal age limit, being lured into gambling too early could cause more mess than merriment further down the line, says the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

For another festive season the BCLC is running its Gift Smart campaign, an annual reminder to parents to not buy lottery products, including scratch cards, for their children.

According to the BCLC's Director of Player Health, Ryan McCarthy, children who are exposed to gambling at a young age are up to four times more likely to develop problematic gambling behaviors later on.

The organization’s Scratch & Win tickets have long been festive favourites for kids, he said, because “they look fun and are easy to play” but there are many other more age-appropriate stocking filler items, like sweets, toys and games, that offer the joy without the risk.

That said, some digital games come with their own risks, warned McCarthy.

Many offer in-game purchases where players can buy prizes with in-game currency, which often contain ‘loot boxes’ where children can gamble their cash for an extra life, or skin for their on-screen character.

“We're just trying to make parents aware that that can be problematic later on,” he said.

For parents who are worried about their children being exposed to gambling, McCarthy recommends having an “open and honest” conversation on the matter.

“It’s making sure that they understand concepts like randomness and odds. So, for example, just because you play doesn't mean you're going to win. Making sure that they understand that it's not necessarily a guarantee is important,” he said.

One of the ways McCarthy recommends framing that conversation is asking the child to consider the consequences that might take place if their bet or gamble doesn’t pull through. Just because they’ve given something up, they might not necessarily get something in return, he said.

“For a kid whose brain is still forming, they might not necessarily understand the risks. Would they be willing to lose one of their favorite toys if they didn't win the game, or would they be willing to not have their favorite dessert after dinner?” said McCarthy.

The risks associated with online gaming paired with the expansion of sports betting and the growing number of gambling advertisements being shown, means that children are exposed to gambling more than they have ever been before, he added.

“We really encourage parents, if they're seeing those kinds of advertisements, or they are seeing their kids engaging in these games, to open up that conversation as early as possible,” he said.