The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL), in collaboration with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), is promoting responsible gifting during the holiday season. This initiative is part of NCPG’s annual Gift Responsibly campaign, which seeks to reduce youth gambling and raise awareness about the risks associated with gambling.
According to research cited by the organizations, children exposed to gambling at an early age, including through lottery tickets, are more likely to develop gambling problems as adults. As a result, ASL has reiterated its position against giving lottery tickets to minors.
“Lottery tickets can be fun presents or stocking stuffers, but we want to remind everyone that they are never appropriate gifts for anyone under 18,” said ASL Executive Director Sharon Strong. “Please be mindful as you’re shopping for your loved ones.”
For additional information on responsible gifting practices, the public is encouraged to visit the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
ASL also cautions players about potential lottery scams. The organization emphasized that it will not directly contact winners and that only legally required information should be provided when claiming prizes at the ASL Claim Center in person or by mail.
“If you ever receive a call, text or email asking you to provide personal information to see if you won a lottery prize, do not respond,” Strong warned. “It is a scam.”
Suspected scams can be reported via the Arkansas Lottery Security Hotline at 1-888-606-6292.
Since its inception in 2009, ASL has sold over $8 billion in tickets and contributed more than $1.5 billion toward scholarships for students in Arkansas. More than 822,000 college scholarships have been awarded through funds distributed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The lottery has paid out over $5.6 billion in prizes and generated more than $465 million in retailer commissions as well as upwards of $189 million in state and federal tax revenue.
More details about scholarships, games, odds, promotions and other services can be found on MyArkansasLottery.com. For support related to problem gambling issues, individuals can reach out to the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit www.ncpgambling.org.
Players must be at least 18 years old to participate.
