ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Lottery tickets are a popular gift during the holiday season and throughout the year. While these tickets are an appropriate gift for adults, the Minnesota State Lottery and Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance remind parents and other adults that lottery tickets should not be given to minors. Lottery players must be 18 years of age or older to purchase or redeem lottery tickets in Minnesota.

"Lottery tickets are designed for adults and are not appropriate for minors," said Lottery Executive Director Clint Harris. "The Minnesota State Lottery takes the 18 year age restriction very seriously. Please enjoy the holiday season by giving age-appropriate gifts, which means no lottery tickets for children."

Catherine Perrault, Executive Director of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance, agrees. "Research has shown that the earlier children begin gambling, the more likely they are to develop gambling problems as adults," Perrault said. "We urge parents and adults not to give lottery tickets to minors during the holiday season or at any other time of the year."

Dr. Ken Winters of the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Psychiatry has extensively studied brain development and addiction in adolescents. "The adolescent brain isn't fully developed, particularly the part that allows us to make responsible judgments," he says. "For that reason, activities like gambling can be particularly dangerous for adolescents. Parents should realize that they are taking a risk when they allow their children to gamble."

His colleague in the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Randy Stinchfield, has found that many children report getting lottery tickets from their parents. "It's important to recognize that while gambling is harmless for most people, it is entertainment that comes with risk," says Stinchfield. "We know that the risk is greater for children and adolescents than for adults. But when parents give gambling-related gifts to children, they are in essence saying, 'This is a safe thing for you to do.'"

About Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance

The Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Minnesotans affected by problem gambling. They work to increase awareness of problem gambling, provide educational programs and resources and advocate for treatment services. For more information, go to www.northstarproblemgambling.org.

If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling problem, call (800) 333-HOPE.

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SOURCE Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance