If giving lottery tickets as gifts, please give responsibly

December 15, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:46 PM

Lottery tickets are colorful and entertaining, but they are not suitable gifts for children and teens under 18 years of age. If you purchase tickets as gifts this holiday season, please make sure that the recipient is old enough to play lottery games.

The Education Lottery makes many efforts to prevent underage gambling. Each instant ticket sold includes a printed reminder of the restriction on lottery sales to minors. The lottery trains retailers to check IDs before selling lottery tickets. The restriction is enforced by state law enforcement agencies.

Each holiday season we also join an effort by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University to discourage lottery tickets as gifts for minors. One reason for such campaigns is that research has shown that gambling at an early age can increase a child’s chances of developing a gambling problem as an adult.

For more information on the National Council on Problem Gambling and the holiday campaign, visit

www.ncpgambling.org/holiday

The lottery also provides $1 million a year to support the N.C. Problem Gambling Program. The program provides prevention and education, outreach and treatment services, and a helpline where people with any type of gambling problem or their family members can call.

For further information, call the North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543 or visit www.morethanagamenc.com.

19 COMMENTS

12/22/2014 08:05 - david c.

I lose a lot myself but enjoy playing at least I have a chance will keep trying hell yea have some fun

12/22/2014 10:04 - Elizabeth H.

I have also noticed that all the winners are from the bigger cities, like Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh. You say that smaller towns are lucky. I do not think so. Sometimes I will buy at least 50 to 100 dollars a week in scratch offs, an may win 20 dollars in a month. I think you put all the winning tickets near the big cities. It is very rare that you hear of a winner in a small town that is not near a big city. I use to love to play the lottery, but I am at the point, that I am going to quit. I have seen people that did not have much money spend a couple of dollars on lottery tickets, with hopes and dreams of winning it big, and then get their hopes dashed to the ground when they don't. I use to play the powerball, then I got to notice that most of the winners were from other states. So I have quit playing it as well. When you make this lottery more equal, I will start playing again.

12/21/2014 07:35 - denise b.

I wish we could see them draw winners it would be nice.

12/20/2014 02:15 - denise b.

Why haven't the Wednesday $800 giveaway the names and area haven't been posted people want to see the area why do it take so many days. NC Lottery
Just like any other lottery prize, the player has to come in and claim in a regional office. We can't release a name until the player is paid. Thanks for the question and best of luck!

12/19/2014 11:02 - Robert G.

IF you play responsible then the fun exists. I play everyday and atleast win something. The second chance drawings increase your odds and still hope that I can win one of those drawings. Good luck to all Lucke-zonies :)

12/18/2014 11:00 - Myrtle L.

It's getting closer to Christmas and even harder to win I't sure would be nice to get a winning ticket for Christmas, Have there been any big winners in Gastonia? I sure would like to become one of them if there are/Would Love to tell a story about a Big Win for Christmas. NC Lottery
There have been many winners in Gastonia over the years. You can check out a few of their stories here: http://goo.gl/EpWg7m

12/18/2014 10:04 - robert t.

When will the Caesar second chance last drawing take place? NC Lottery
Good morning. No date has been set. Lots of prizes remain to be claimed in the Caesar's game, including five top prizes of $150,000 and 10 trips to Caesars that can be won instantly. We want folks who are playing now and in the months to come to have a chance at the second-chance drawing too. Best guess would be sometime in the spring.

12/18/2014 10:54 - Reneta M.

I wish the winner was from Thomasville and it was me.

12/18/2014 12:31 - Karen F.

I've also noticed certain areas win,and only certain people win over and over again,please let other people win,Salisbury area hasn't won hardly none,like me I've never won but try all the time and never won a blankie thing,thought you'd have different people win instead same people win over and over again,how is this a second chance to people who have never won?

12/17/2014 12:10 - Barbara K.

Yes,see where the winners are! Rutherfordton is between Asheville and Charlotte.Matthews, is right outside Charlotte and Liberty is right outside Greensboro.Elizabeth City,you do not hear of many winners.I do look at the winners page and this is where I see all the winners from the same areas or really close to the same area areas.Charlotte,Asheville,Greensboro, Winston Salem,Fayetteville,Raleigh,Greenville,Goldsboro. Where were the NC Powerball & Mega Million winners located. NC Lottery
The Powerball jackpot winners are from Kings Mountain, Halifax and Asheville. The Mega Millions jackpot winners came from Greenville and Greensboro.

12/16/2014 05:34 - DeAndrea H.

I think I'm going to lose my mind!

12/16/2014 02:25 - Barbara K.

So Lucke-Zone are you saying that if we do not live in these high populated areas we will never win because it is TRUE that all winners are from the same areas.Maybe we need to change some auditors and machines as the small areas are tired of always being losers.The lottery cannot be fun if you are always loosing? NC Lottery
Winners pop up in less-populated areas throughout the state all the time. Be sure to keep an eye on our winners stories at http://nc-educationlottery.org/news_article-list.aspx. We've recently had big wins in Elizabeth City, Rutherfordton, Matthews and Liberty, just to name a few.

12/16/2014 01:24 - harvey v.

tired of break even tickets. Sorry kids. I wont be giving out tickets this year for christmas. So you wont learn to lose from me.:(

12/16/2014 09:36 - jason r.

kids are your future investers...lets get them started..if you give them a few losers maybe they will know what a waste of money it is on scratch offs

12/16/2014 07:42 - jason r.

BOOOO...

12/15/2014 11:54 - denise b.

It's a rip off because it seems the big money is in the same areas I check every other dayNC Lottery
It's not easier or harder to win the lottery depending on where you live; there are just more people playing for a chance to win in some places. Let us know where you live and we'll be glad to share some info about lucky folks in your area.

12/15/2014 07:33 - Darlene D.

I can't win either but it was nice to know where the ticket was won and what type of ticket was being won. Now we know nothing. You took away my hopes of winning somewhere. someday on what might be my lucky ticket. You even stop posting the winner page. Haven't been UPDATED SINCE October 2014. Why???????? I need something to read even if i can't win so i can be happy when somebody else win. Thank you for listening.NC Lottery
We aren't sure what particular issue you're talking about; we post winner information every day! Check out the WINNERS and NEWS pages on our website and best of luck to you!

12/15/2014 06:52 - Ronald C.

The catz thank you for your concern with underage sales of tickets. However, some parents do not understand the danger and let their children play with them as a "learning" tool.NC Lottery
We know that we can't make up people's minds for them, but we can share good information to folks that they can hopefully use to make good decisions! :)

12/15/2014 02:54 - HR W.

I can't understand for the life of me why I keep buying $20 tickets and keep scratching off 2 x $10. This is so sickening. What happened to the 352,000 prizes valued at $100 to $20,000? NC Lottery
Sorry to hear you aren't having a fun time playing our games. Remember, there are lots of prizes but they are spread across lots of tickets all over the state. We wish you nothing but the best of luck and a happy holiday season.

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If giving lottery tickets as gifts, please give responsibly

December 15, 2014 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:46 PM

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