With the holiday shopping season upon us, the California Lottery is reminding players that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for kids.
“Our holiday-themed Scratchers are designed to add fun to the season for sure, but they are not appropriate – or legal – for kids,” said Carolyn Becker, California Lottery spokesperson. “Scratchers do not belong in your child’s stocking, and giving these games to minors in any way is against the law.”
Research from the National Council on Problem Gambling indicates that early exposure to gambling increases the risk of developing gambling-related issues later in life.
To try to prevent sales to minors, lottery officials said they conduct “undercover operations” with underage decoys across its network of more than 23,000 retailers.
The California Lottery was established in 1984 after voters approved Proposition 37. Since then, it has generated more than $46 billion for public education.
About 80% of the funds go to K-12 schools, 14% to community colleges, and the rest to the California State University and University of California systems.
In 2023, Californians spent approximately $6.57 billion on lottery Scratchers, more than any other type of lottery game, including Powerball and Mega Millions.
