BCLC Says No to Underage Gambling Gifts
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation has once again reminded people in British Columbia that children should not be given gambling gifts for the holiday season. The BCLC has once again reminded Canadians that gambling is not for children, and is considered to be a form of entertainment that is only appropriate for adults. More specifically, the BCLC has reminded adults that they should not buy scratch cards or lottery tickets for those who are legally considered children under the age of 19.
BCLCs Annual Pledge Against Gambling Stocking Stuffers
The BCLC has sent this message out to the public before, and it has become an annual event in which the BCLC works hard to put this point across to the public. In order to inform and remind as many people as possible, the company uses a number of ways to reach individuals. Some of the methods used by the BCLC include using various social media platforms, and advertisements on their own website. The company hopes to at least reduce the number of these gifts that are given to children, even if it is not able to entirely eliminate them.
Along with the social media and online advertisements, the BCLC also makes use of digital signs that can be found at lottery terminals across British Columbia. The anti-underage gambling gifts campaign may put pamphlets in various locations reminding parents not to use scratch cards and lottery tickets as stocking stuffers, and in addition to that, the pamphlets also give parents some guidelines on the best way to talk to their children about gambling. In casinos in British Columbia and in other centres that offer gaming entertainment, the BCLC has made use of electronic signs to send the message to those who need to see it.
Responsible Gaming and the BCLC
The BCLC has its own voluntary self-exclusion programme for players in British Columbia. Players who feel that they have gambling problems, or potential gambling problems can put themselves on the self-exclusion list, and will not be able to play in BC casinos.
The Director of Social Responsibility at the BCLC, Paul Smith, said: "In an effort to raise awareness and remind folks not to buy lottery tickets for children or youth, we are posting responsible giving messages at lottery retailers across the province during the peak holiday shopping season."
Smith also made it clear that using gambling games as gifts and stocking stuffers for children is simply "not child's play." More information regarding children and gambling can be found on the BCLCs Game Sense website. Quite simply put, the BCLC says no to underage gambling gifts.
