ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – Youth gambling is a growing health concern.

Research shows the earlier a person’s exposure to gambling, the more likely he or she is to develop a gambling problem later in life.

There is now a campaign designed to educate parents and caregivers on gifting responsibly.

Ben Choate, a Prevention and Wellness Specialist with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare and representative of PreventProblemGambling.org, joined us on Here @ Home to talk about this issue and why it’s so important to talk to your kids about gambling and how addictive it can be.

This global initiative is aimed at raising awareness about the risks of gifting lottery tickets and similar gambling-related items to minors.

Spearheaded by organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the World Lottery Association (WLA), the campaign emphasizes that gambling is an activity strictly for adults and not appropriate for children.

By educating parents, caregivers, and communities, the campaign seeks to prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gift-giving, and protect youth from potential gambling-related harms.

Its core message is simple: lottery tickets and scratch-offs are not child’s play.

Visit www.PreventProblemGambling.org to learn more.

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