Gift Responsibly Campaign: Keep the Scratch Offs Out of Kids’ Stockings

Every December, we raise awareness about the dangers of gifting lottery tickets for children during the holiday season and beyond with the Gift Responsibly Campaign, and this year is no different. This holiday season, the FCCG is advocating for a thoughtful approach to gifting—one that spreads joy without inadvertently increasing problem gambling risk in children. 

What Florida Research Revealed About Youth Gambling Risk¹

• Florida prevalence research revealed 18.5% of adolescents ages 13-17 reported purchasing lottery tickets in their lifetime and 12.5% within the past year.

• Lifetime participation in gambling was almost 70% among Florida residents, ages 13 to 17.

• Over 40% reported gambling in the past year and 11.5% identified as weekly gamblers.

• Adolescent problem gamblers also had much higher rates of alcohol, drug, and tobacco use.

The Gift Responsibly Campaign strongly urges parents, family members, and caregivers to leave lottery tickets off children’s gift lists, and help to raise awareness to the dangers of youth gambling. Learn more at gamblinghelp.org/gift-responsibly.

Research has shown that some individuals are born with a genetic predisposition to addiction, inherited from their family. However, environmental factors also play a significant role in shaping a child’s attitude towards gambling. When children are exposed to gambling activities during family gatherings, it can normalize this behavior in their developing minds.

Children’s brains continue to develop until the age of 25, making them particularly susceptible to influences in their environment. When they witness adults getting excited over gambling wins, it can create a powerful association between gambling and positive emotions. This excitement triggers a dopamine rush, potentially laying the groundwork for future gambling disorders.

Just as families discuss the dangers of drugs and alcohol with children, it’s equally important to address the risks of gambling. All three can have devastating effects on an individual’s life. This holiday season, be mindful of the messages you’re sending to children through your words and actions.

There are numerous gift options that don’t involve scratch-off tickets or other gambling-related items. This consideration extends not only to children’s stockings but also to gifts for friends and coworkers. It’s important to remember that gambling addiction is often a silent struggle, and seemingly innocent gifts could potentially exacerbate someone’s condition.

If you are concerned about your own, your child’s, or another loved one’s gambling or risk for problem gambling, confidential and multilingual help, hope, and information are available 24/7 by calling or texting the only problem gambling HelpLine in Florida: 888-ADMIT-IT. The HelpLine may also be reached through live chat on the FCCG’s website at gamblinghelp.org, by email (fccg@gamblinghelp.org) or by connecting with the FCCG on social media, such as Facebook and X.

Bingo’s Surprising Comeback Will Blow You Away

The month of December is celebrated as Bingo’s “birthday month.” It is believed that bingo started in Italy in 1530 and was called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia,” which translates to “The Italian Lotto Game.” In 1929, a toy salesman named Edwin Lowe brought it to America.² Initially intended as a game for children, it grew and has become more than a toy or game for some. Nearly 500 years after the first bingo game and close to 100 years after its arrival in the U.S., you may be surprised to learn that bingo is making a comeback among Millennials and Generation Z.

Gambling is wagering anything of value on an event with an uncertain outcome. Despite its casual use in social settings and even in grade school classrooms, bingo is a form of gambling. Bingo may not come to mind as readily as more commonly recognized forms of gambling like slot machines, poker, blackjack, or racing, but it is a form of gambling all the same. From the bingo halls that have been around for decades, to bars, to Greek houses on college campuses, to tribal casinos, to countless online and mobile apps, bingo today has a diverse footprint and a high level of accessibility.

The image of the typical “retired” bingo player in pop culture doesn’t reflect the game’s changing demographics. The FADER reports that back in 2022, a Milwaukee casino reported that 59% of their bingo players were Millennials, and a bingo hall franchise based in England recently claimed that half of new players are under 35!³ Still doubtful? Consider “Bingo Loco,” a three-hour rave party built around the game of bingo with events around the country, including in Ft. Lauderdale, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.⁴

Like with any form of gambling, there is a potential for the development of a gambling addiction with bingo. Another consideration here is that bingo, particularly outside traditional gambling establishments, may spell trigger or relapse trouble for an at-risk or recovering person if it isn’t recognized as a form of gambling. If you’re worried that you or someone you know may have a problem with bingo or ANY type of gambling, contact the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine to get connected to help and hope.

[1] Shapira, N. A., Ferguson, M. A., Frost-Pineda, K., & Gold, M. S. (2002). Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence among Adolescents in Florida.
[2] Bellis, Mary. “How Was Bingo Invented?” ThoughtCo, 24 June 2019, www.thoughtco.com/history-of-bingo-4077068.  
[3] Song, Sandra. “Bingo Night Is the New Warehouse Rave.” The FADER, 27 Aug. 2024, www.thefader.com/2024/08/26/bingo-millennial-gen-z.
[4] “WHAT IS BINGO LOCO?” Bingo Loco, us.bingoloco.com/how-to-play. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.