Gambling is not child’s play
This year, Austrian Lotteries is once again set to support the international “Gift Responsible Campaign”
The Gift Responsibly Campaign is committed to raising public awareness of the risks of gambling among young people. Every year, especially in the run–up to Christmas, Austrian Lotteries emphasises that gambling products are not suitable gifts for children and adolescents – with the slogan “Gambling is not child’s play”.
Erwin van Lambaart, Director General of Austrian Lotteries, sees the long-standing support of the “Gift Responsible Campaign” as something that could never be questioned: “For us, gaming is first and foremost a question of responsibility and thus the most important part of our corporate DNA. This includes responsible behaviour as well as the highest level of professionalism in the handling of games and in player protection. As a socially responsible licensee, we aim to ensure that an important message is communicated through our channels to promote responsible behaviour, especially towards children and young people.”
Austrian Lotteries has been taking part in the international campaign during the season’s gift-buying period leading up to Christmas since 2010. The core message of the annual campaign is that children are not a target group for lottery products and that adults should not buy lottery products as gifts for children and adolescents. This campaign is being communicated throughout Austria under the catchy slogan “Gambling is not child’s play” and is intended to raise public awareness.
In order to focus even more attention on this important issue of the 18+ requirement and lottery products as gifts only from adults for adults – throughout the year, not just during the holiday season – additional advertising spots were presented in 2024 on all digital channels as well as on digital advertising screens and customer screens in the receiving retail outlets.
International studies show links between the age of first contact with gambling and the likelihood of experiencing gambling-related stress later in life. This was the impetus for the initiators of the “Gift Responsibly Campaign” – the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), Washington DC, and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University, Montreal – to launch this campaign under the name (at that time): “Holiday Lottery Campaign”.
Since then, over 80 responsible lotteries around the world have taken part in this campaign, actively helping to ensure that their gambling-related products don’t end up in the wrong hands.