Atlantic Lottery issues holiday reminder that gambling and minors don’t mix

Atlantic Lottery is reminding adults that scratch tickets and other lottery products are not appropriate gifts for minors during the holiday season.

Denise Pettis, manager of corporate social responsibility at Atlantic Lottery, said research shows that young people who play for money before the age of 19 are at a higher risk of developing gambling problems later in life.

“Lottery tickets can be great last-minute gifts for the adults in your life, but not for anyone under the age of 19. Retailers cannot control where tickets go once they are sold. This is why we are reminding people not to give these tickets to young people as gifts,” said Pettis.

Atlantic Lottery’s 3,000 retailers across P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador undergo responsible gambling training, and are subject to age of majority compliance. This season, as always, they will be asking for identification from anyone who looks 25 years of age or under.

Anyone who has concerns with their gambling or someone else’s can call 1-855-255-4255 on P.E.I.