It is again time for the winter holiday season, and people are about to exchange many gifts with their close ones. That is why the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has taken the opportunity to remind parents and adults from the province, that all lottery tickets are a form of gambling and should not be gifted to children and minors.
OLG is a state-run agency that offers regulated gambling products for the Province of Ontario and reinvests proceeds from it in the local infrastructure and more. The Crown corporation oversees land-based gaming properties, lottery games, online gaming, bingo and other electronic gaming products at charitable gaming centres, while also supporting the local horse racing sector.
Not a Gift for the Young Ones
In its most recent press release, OLG reminds that while lottery tickets may be a great gift idea for special occasions, they should not be gifted to children and youth. The Crown corporation notes that it is important for parents to understand that there are risks and impacts associated with underage gambling. It urged to not gift lottery tickets to the under 18-year-olds.
OLG provides plenty of information and resources on youth and gambling. For instance, its YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program is a free service funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care which aims to raise awareness among youth of potential gambling risks, how to make informed decisions, and healthy, active lifestyles.
There’s also the Crown’s PlaySmart.ca player protection platform, which can help parents in realizing the facts when it comes to games of chance. The service also has a “Finding Help” section with links to the support resources. This includes the Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Responsible Gambling Council.
The RGC is an independent non-profit organization fixated on the prevention of problem gambling in the country and the whole world, with information on Teens or Young Adults and gambling. And for years the OLG has been an advocate for the National Council of Problem Gambling and McGill University’s Holiday campaign, which sends the message that lottery tickets are not for children.
It should also be mentioned that in September 2022, the OLG debuted an improved version of its self-exclusion program “My PlayBreak”. In order to protect its many clients, the Crown’s new program offers more flexibility and choice for when players want to take a break from gambling. It is available in brick-and-mortar casinos, charitable gaming centres, and its online platform OLG.ca.
More Online Payment Options
The Crown corporation is always seeking of expanding its services and provide the best possible experience for bettors. In November, it introduced new online payment options for the secure and intuitive purchase of digital lottery products on its website or OLG app. Now, users can purchase tickets via Direct Pay with their credit or debit cards without having to deposit funds first.
Source: “Bet “Gift Smart” This Holiday Season: Lottery Gifts are for Grown-Ups Only” OLG, December 8, 2022
