December 17, 2012

Lottery Director Says to "Buy Appropriately"
Lottery Tickets are not for Children

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for your children?  Please don't make it Lottery Tickets!  Rhode Island Lottery Director Gerald S. Aubin wants to remind everyone that while Lottery Tickets are a great gift idea for adults, they are not meant for children.

Many adults may think of Lottery Tickets as an easy and exciting holiday gift for their children; but Dr. George Ladd of the Chemical Dependency & Addiction Studies (CDAS) Program at Rhode Island College suggests that adults who provide children under the age of 18 with Lottery Tickets are making a mistake.

According to Dr. Ladd, studies show that children under the age of 18 are more vulnerable to developing problematic attitudes towards gambling. So, by providing Lottery Tickets to children, adults may be putting them at greater risk for gambling problems.

"Children and adolescents lack the cognitive and emotional maturity to properly consider the experience of gambling", said Dr. Ladd, "and they are more likely than adults to misinterpret their chances of winning and to react impulsively to wins and losses by seeking out more gambling opportunities."  Dr. Ladd suggests that adults should consider underage gambling in the same light as underage drinking..."underage youth are not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of alcohol use and are likewise not ready for the responsibilities of gambling".

Director Aubin said, "the Rhode Island Lottery always encourages everyone to 'Play Responsibly' and during the Holiday Season, we remind people to also 'Buy Appropriately' by giving the fun gift of Lottery Tickets only to the adults on your shopping list."