Arizona Lottery Joins 2024 Gift Responsibly Campaign to Raise Awareness of Youth Gambling Risks
PHOENIX (Dec. 5, 2024) – The Arizona Lottery today announced its commitment as a level two participant of the 2024 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign, organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), aims to remind holiday shoppers that Lottery Tickets are never appropriate gifts for children. Alongside the Arizona Lottery, the Arizona Department of Gaming’s Division of Problem Gambling is reaffirming its mission to provide effective problem gambling prevention, treatment and education programs, part of the Department’s larger mission to mitigate the harms associated with gambling.
Research shows that the earlier a person’s participation or exposure to gambling is in childhood, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is often through some kind of lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch-offs. Often these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks.
“The Arizona Lottery is proud to once again partner with the National Council on Problem Gambling for the Gift Responsibly Campaign, continuing a long-standing commitment to raising awareness about the dangers of underage lottery use,” said Alec Thomson, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “Our participation in this campaign underscores our dedication to promoting responsible gaming and protecting the well-being of Arizonans, especially during the holiday season.”
The Arizona Lottery has signed on to the 2024 Gift Responsibly Campaign as a level 2 participant. Both the Lottery and the Department of Gaming will work to promote awareness about the risks of underage lottery use by sharing information with consumers via social media, public service announcements, and reminders to retailers.
“The potential long-term risks associated with underage gambling exposure cannot be understated,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “We applaud The Arizona Lottery and the Arizona Department of Gaming for their commitment to raising awareness about the risks of youth gambling and for working to educate the community that lottery tickets are never appropriate gifts for children.”
“The Arizona Department of Gaming’s Division of Problem Gambling is dedicated to supporting efforts that ensure gambling remains a safe and responsible activity for all Arizonans,” said Jackie Johnson, ADG Director. “By partnering with the Arizona Lottery on the Gift Responsibly Campaign, we aim to protect our youth and promote a culture of awareness around this critical issue.”
“We commend the Arizona Lottery for its leadership in joining this global youth gambling prevention awareness campaign, further highlighting Arizona’s commitment to socially responsible gaming in Arizona,” stated Division of Problem Gambling Director, Elise Mikkelsen. “By collaborating, we can more effectively protect Arizona’s families and address problem gambling, especially during the critical holiday season.”
Arizonans who may struggle with gambling can access personal, confidential treatment and recovery services by calling the Division of Problem Gambling’s 24/7 Helpline at 1-800 NEXT-STEP or by texting NEXT-STEP to 53342. Additional resources such as Gambler’s Anonymous, a self-screening quiz, and more can be found at problemgambling.az.gov.
