CONCORD, N.H. – To remind players lottery tickets are not appropriate gifts for those under age 18, the New Hampshire Lottery is teaming up with the New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling this holiday season to raise awareness for the risks associated with underage lottery play. Through the “Holiday Lottery Responsible Gaming Campaign,” the New Hampshire Lottery, together with U.S. and Canadian lotteries, is reiterating that holiday-themed scratch tickets, as well as other lottery games, are not suitable gifts for children and adolescents.
“This, and every holiday season, it is extremely important consumers understand all games and scratch tickets are only available to those who are ages 18 and older,” said Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director, New Hampshire Lottery. “While we encourage our players to purchase our tickets and games as gifts during the holiday season, we also urge consumers not to gift them to minors.”
The New Hampshire Lottery makes a concerted effort to prevent underage lottery play by including a printed reminder on lottery products that players must be 18. Additionally, the New Hampshire Lottery trains all retailers to check IDs for age verification before selling lottery tickets.
“Many do not realize the importance of reiterating lottery tickets should not be gifted to children,” said Maura McCann, Chairwoman, New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling. “We are fortunate and grateful the New Hampshire Lottery has continued to put an emphasis on this important point.”
The New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling was established through the 2019 legislation legalizing sports betting in the Granite State and is tasked with education, prevention and treatment related to gambling disorders in New Hampshire.
About New Hampshire Lottery
Since 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery has contributed more than $2.45 billion and counting to education in New Hampshire. For the past 58 years, the New Hampshire Lottery has recorded more than $8.5 billion in lottery sales and other earnings, with over $5.7 billion paid in prizes and other cost of sales.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission, located at 14 Integra Drive in Concord, currently manages all lottery operations in the state, including scratch games, New Hampshire Powerball®, New Hampshire Mega Millions®, Tri-State Megabucks℠, Tri-State Pick3®/Pick4® Daily Numbers games, Gimme 5, Fast Play games, Lucky For Life®, KENO 603℠, and iLottery. The New Hampshire Lottery also regulates charitable gaming, including Bingo, Lucky 7, and Games of Chance, along with simulcast racing, fantasy sports, and sports wagering.
About the New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling
The New Hampshire Council for Responsible Gambling, which was established through the 2019 legislation legalizing sports betting in the Granite State, is a five-member board tasked with education, prevention and treatment related to gambling disorders in New Hampshire. The council addresses the social, financial and emotional costs of problem gambling by providing information, education, advocacy and prevention services, as well as referrals to treatment for problem gambling to those affected, their family, and their loved ones and the community.