NJ Lottery reminds scratch-offs are not suitable gifts for minors

• Reaffirming its dedication to responsible gambling, the New Jersey Lottery explained why families should not gift scratch-off tickets to young adults under 18
• The Lottery reiterated that consumers need to be 18 years or older to participate in lottery games
• Numerous studies warn that exposure to gambling early in life may result in gambling-related problems in the future

With the start of the holiday season, many people may consider adding lottery tickets to their gift shopping lists for Christmas.

In that line of thought, the New Jersey Lottery reminded the public that lottery tickets make an excellent gift as long as they are received by people who are of legal age.

Scratch-off tickets are not for minors

Reaffirming its dedication to responsible gambling and protecting young people from gambling harm, the Lottery reiterated that scratch-off tickets, although good gifts, are not for everyone.

In order to buy and play scratch-off games in New Jersey, consumers need to be 18 years old or older.

A reminder on every New Jersey Lottery product reads: "Not 18 yet? No bet."

James Carey, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Lottery, commented on the topic, Casino Guru News learned from a press release.

"Responsible gaming is core to what we do, and it is the responsibility of everyone that works for the New Jersey Lottery," he said.

Moreover, Carey spoke about the importance of operating honestly, building trust and ensuring transparency, with all those factors ensuring accountability.

"We operate responsibly because that prioritizes player welfare. As part of that, we constantly remind our customers and retailers that these games are not for minors," the Executive Director added.

Finally, Carey pointed out: "We urge parents to not give Lottery products as gifts to youth in their families."

Exposure of young adults to gambling may result in serious gambling problems later in life

Data from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), cited by the New Jersey Lottery, suggests that more than half of all youths admit to engaging in games for money in 2025.

Equally as concerning, approximately 6% of all youths under the age of 18 are affected by a serious gambling problem, the NCPG data warns.

This figure translates to more than 100 youths affected by problem gambling from a typical New Jersey high school with 2,000 students.

At the same time, countless studies warn that early exposure to gambling is often associated with problem gambling habits later in life.

In that line of thought, a study of the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that seeing family members participate in lottery games creates risks related to normalizing gambling and may cause gambling problems later in life.

Considering this data, the New Jersey Lottery encouraged families to "understand the need to model healthy behaviors to children under 18."

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