Our Reminder Note: Lottery Tickets Are For The Grown-Ups

Here’s a reminder note we hope you’ll think back to as you’re shopping for gifts in the next few weeks.

Lottery tickets are popular as presents and stocking stuffers, and we’re all for having fun! But here at the Iowa Lottery, we’re also cognizant that our tickets – while colorful, entertaining and affordable – may not be something you want to give to those underage.

That same thing holds true for a wider range of products, too. Some video games and movies may not be appropriate for all ages due to their content. Alcohol and tobacco-related products have their own age restrictions. Even toys have age-recommendation guidelines.

In Iowa, you have to be at least 21 years old to buy lottery tickets, and we’ve always considered that our products are for adults. Remember, you are gambling when you play the lottery.

The Iowa Lottery offers these reminders to minimize the risks associated with youth gambling:

• Be sure to give youngsters age-appropriate gifts.
• When you give lottery tickets as presents, please keep the person's age in mind.

And as always, if you or someone you know has questions about problem gambling, know that help is available 24/7 by text, live chat or telephone through the Your Life Iowa website or the 1-800-BETS OFF helpline.

Comments

[Mary Neubauer]

Hello, Justina. That language in state law predates my time working at the lottery. It's my understanding that it dates back to the start of the lottery in 1985 and has to do with discussions about property rights. My understanding is that a lottery ticket, once purchased, becomes a person's property, and under property law, the owner can gift the ticket tp someone else if they choose to do so and are not taking that step for a nefarious reason, such as to try to circumvent a different provision in the law. Some lottery ticket purchasers through the years, for example, have gifted a ticket winning a large prize to a grandchild to help pay for college expenses.

[Justina]

Then why ages 21 plus can buy but underage can cash them in if under a certain amount...thus them getting excited for the rewards and not seeing that it can be a losing addiction