Scratch Card Ban For Teens
The National Lottery is shaping up to implement a ban on teens playing the Lotto and purchasing Scratch Cards.
Millions of British teens will no longer be able to take part in the weekly National Lottery games, along with a ban on the sale of Scratch Cards to those under 18. Currently, 16-year-olds can take part in the National Lottery bi-weekly Lotto draws. According to reports, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attempt to change the law in a bid to stop teens from Gambling.
In Britain, Gambling is illegal for under-18s, but anyone can play national Lottery games over the age of 16. The change in law will likely come into effect around December 2020.
In 2019, Camelot, the company which runs the National Lottery, launched a scratchcard based on the popular iTV show ‘Love Island’ in what many saw as a bid to appeal to younger players. It’s unknown if the Government decided to act based on the introduction of the ‘Love Island’ scratch card.
It’s more likely that Ministers are attempting to close a loophole in the Gambling regulation which carves out an exemption for the National Lottery. Sports Betting Shops, Bingo Halls and Casino Operators cannot legally accept customers below the age of 18 years old.
The youngest ever UK Lotto winner was Jane Park; she was only 17 years old when she scooped a staggering £1 million on the EuroMillions jackpot game. Before winning the life-changing amount, Jane had an £8 per hour job as a temp and lived in a council flat with her mum in Edinburgh.
Campaigners for a change in the law have welcomed the news. Taking to Twitter to express support for Governments Proposal. Matt Zarb-Cousin of campaigners Clean Up Gambling said: “The younger you start gambling the more likely you are to fall into addiction. All Gambling should be restricted to 18 and over.”
This is very welcome. The younger you start gambling, the more likely you are to fall into addiction
There is a link between legal youth gambling and adult gambling problems. All gambling should be restricted to 18 and over pic.twitter.com/lG1iotTz55
— Clean Up Gambling (@cleanupgambling) August 16, 2020
Clean Up Gambling added: Britain is the only country in the world that sets no minimum age for some forms of Gambling 16-year-olds are allowed to gamble on the National Lottery — including “instant win” online scratchcards for up to £350 a week All online Gambling should have a minimum age of 18.
The Government stated it would look at a change in the law but warned that any change could take at least three years to come into force.
