TRENTON (December 8, 2025) – Now that the holiday season (officially at least) is now in full swing.

As shoppers slog through their gift lists, New Jersey Lottery tickets are likely somewhere on the ledger. However, buyers should beware. While Scratch-Off tickets are often a staple in stockings, they aren’t right for everybody. Throughout the year, Lottery officials maintain a responsible play mind-set. Paramount to this is the Lottery’s commitment to ensuring those under age 18 do not participate. Indeed, placed on every Lottery product is a reminder: “Not 18 yet? No bet.”

Families must understand the need to model healthy behaviors to children under 18. By themselves, the Lottery’s Scratch-Off tickets seem harmless enough. They add additional spark to the holiday festivities as players banter about their dreams for big prizes.

However, shoppers must consider the broader challenges all forms of gambling present for younger players. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), well over half of all youths have said that they have participated in games for money during this year. Additional, the NCPG says, as much as 6% of youths under 18 have a serious problem gambling. Consider that a typical high school in New Jersey could have as many 2,000 students. That means more than 100 youths at the school could be struggling with problem-gambling behaviors.

Numerous research journals have produced findings that show that early exposure to gambling leads to future problem gambling habits.

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, roughly half of all people have played simulated gambling games by the time they are adolescents. That fun interaction can spark an interest in gambling. When given as gifts, Scratch-Off tickets, which generally have the best odds of winning some type of prize, can give youth an unrealistic expectation of the reward factor without accounting for financial risk.

By seeing family members in the house participate with Lottery products, risks normalizing gambling and making gambling problems more severe later in life, the Journal of Psychiatric Research has found.

With these challenges in mind, New Jersey’s Lottery products and public outreach are designed to provide entertainment while also underscoring the importance of safe gambling habits.

“Responsible gaming is core to what we do, and it is the responsibility of everyone that works for the New Jersey Lottery. We operate with honesty because that builds trust. We operate with transparency because that ensures 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,” New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey said. “We urge parents to not give Lottery products as gifts to youth in their families.”

More About the New Jersey Lottery

Since its inception in 1970, the Lottery has contributed nearly $34.7 billion to the State, helping to support many worthwhile programs and services. Lottery profits currently help bolster the public employee pension system under a 30-year agreement signed into law in 2017.