Lottery Safeguards

· Advertising should not target those under 25 or the elderly.

· Requiring player's cards with smart technology to document playing history and ability of the lottery commission to contact those who seem to be playing excessively. This would require penalties for those using someone else's card to buy tickets.

· All advertisements should carrying a "responsible gambling" message and/or gambling addiction hotline number.

· At times when jackpots are high, advertising of the lottery should cease and information regarding gambling responsibly and gambling addiction awareness should be substituted.

· Vigorous enforcement of restrictions on underage purchases of lottery tickets should be in place such as with tobacco and alcohol. Requirements for proof of I.D. should be similar for the purchases of all three products.

· Lottery ticket vendors and their staff should be required to have training on recognizing problem gamblers and intervening if a problem gambler is identified.

· All tickets should carry a problem gambling hotline number.

· All vendors should have problem gambling written information available for gamblers, which indicates the signs of problem gambling and resources for the individual who might need assistance with problem gambling.

· All vendors should be required to post problem gambling hotline numbers in a prominent and easily visible place.

Copyright 2007

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