Change the Game Ohio highlights risks of gambling gifts for kids

• A campaign in Ohio raises awareness about the risks associated with gifting lottery and scratch-off tickets to children
• The campaign is led by Change the Game Ohio and comes ahead of the holiday season, asking adults to take a closer look at the gifts they give to kids
• The call of the initiative that combats youth gambling comes at a time when new research uncovered nearly 43% of youth Americans gambled in the last year

Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, Change the Game Ohio, a statewide public awareness and education initiative focusing on prevention of youth gambling and raising awareness of risks associated with the activity, encouraged adults to take a closer look at the gifts they give children.

Parents encouraged to reconsider lottery tickets as kids' holiday gifts

It is not uncommon for parents, caretakers, or grandparents to give scratch-off or lottery tickets to children.

Although such gifts are seen by adults as harmless stocking stuffers, experts in Ohio warn about the unintended risks related to such presents, especially when they are received by children.

Instead of lottery and scratch-off tickets, Change the Game Ohio encourages adults to consider alternatives that foster creativity and entertainment away from screens.

Such gifts that are far more suitable for children include board games, puzzles, books and educational trips, as well as various real-life experiences like sports events, museum tours and movie tickets, among other things.

Derek Longmeier, the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio’s executive director, spoke about the dangers of gifting children lottery tickets, Casino Guru News learned from a press release.

"Parents and caregivers may not always recognize how certain gifts can introduce young people to gambling or gambling-like behaviors," he explained.

"Whether it's a lottery ticket, a scratch-off, or video game gift cards, it's important to recognize the potential risks behind what may seem like harmless fun," Longmeier added.

Study uncovers 43% of US teenagers gambled in the last year

The announcement of Change the Game Ohio comes at a time when an uptick in underage gambling is observed across the country.

The organization pointed to a 2026 nationwide survey by Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies, which found approximately 43% of the teenagers in the United States between the ages of 13 and 17 admitted to gambling in the last year.

The survey included responses from more than 1,600 young Americans, uncovering that out of those who gambled, 10.8% fit into the classification for being at risk of problem gambling.

The study analyzed 21 forms of gambling, including sports betting, prediction markets, cryptocurrency trading and esports betting, uncovering that youth gamblers engage in various forms of gambling.

The study also found that exposure to gambling-like mechanics via video games and gambling-like activities also poses significant risks for children.

In this context, Change the Game Ohio encouraged adults to share the Youth Gambling Prevention Guide and help their loved ones when selecting gifts to give to children.

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