Now in its sixth year, the 2023 Gift Responsibly Campaign focuses on promoting responsible gift-giving during the holiday season. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the potential risks of exposing children to gambling and how it could contribute to gambling problems later in life. It has garnered support from 66 lotteries and 84 community organisations worldwide.
The campaign has received backing from eligible US and Canadian lotteries, including the New Jersey Lottery, Colorado Lottery, and Pennsylvania Lottery. International lotteries such as Lotto New Zealand and the National Lottery of Croatia, as well as other non-lottery organisations, also support the initiative.
Participating organisations will be running various initiatives throughout November and December to promote the campaign. These initiatives will focus on educating communities about the dangers of giving lottery tickets as gifts to children and promoting responsible gambling for legal adults who choose to gamble.
The campaign offers a tiered approach for lotteries, encouraging increasing levels of participation. Supporters will engage in activities such as public service announcements, social media messaging, digital advertising, in-store signage, and retailer training to raise awareness about responsible gift-giving.
The NCPG (National Council on Problem Gambling) has made it clear that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children or teens, and NCPG executive director Keith Whyte commended the level of support received for the campaign. He emphasized the campaign’s role in safeguarding youth and promoting responsible gambling practices internationally.
Jeffrey Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours, highlighted the importance of the campaign in raising awareness about the risks of gambling-related problems among young people. He emphasized that adults should refrain from gifting lottery tickets to minors.
