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Playing the lottery is a social or recreational activity, something that is fun and entertaining for players, while providing benefits to education and State-supported institutions. As with other recreational and entertainment activities, it is the player's responsibility to exercise caution and, in the case of gaming activities, maintain control of his or her spending. The New Jersey Lottery is aware that for some individuals any form of gaming can be a problem. As a result, the New Jersey Lottery promotes and encourages responsible play. Our current Responsible Play program includes:
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Developed a brochure about Responsible Play with the cooperation of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey that was distributed to all 6,000-lottery retailers and available at Lottery displays and exhibits. |
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Adopted advertising and marketing policies that encourage responsible play and promote the services available through the Council on Compulsive Gambling. |
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Designated a Manager for Problem Gaming Awareness at the Lottery to spearhead the New Jersey Lottery's further efforts to promote Responsible Play. |
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Printing the 1-800-GAMBLER number on all Lottery tickets, lottery machines, instant ticket vending machines (ITVM), game brochures and all other advertising materials. |
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Linking to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey Web site from the Lottery's Web site. |
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Creating and airing Responsible Play messages for 10 second announcer read spots. |
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Maintaining a working relationship with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and other similar entities. |
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Supporting the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey through attendance and sponsorship of the Council's conferences and events. |
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Serving on the Board of Directors for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. |
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The New Jersey Lottery is expanding our current program by:
- Continuing to encourage responsible play among all customers and retailers. The New Jersey Lottery shall look for additional vehicles in which to communicate the Responsible Play message through it's various and expanding tools of communication.
- Heightening public awareness of the dangers of problem gaming and promote our responsible play message to customers, retailers, and Lottery employees.
- Continuing to work with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and other similar entities to assist them with problem gambling education, prevention and treatment for the adult and youth population of the State.
| Regarding underage gaming activities the State Lottery Law (N.J.S.A. 5:9-1 et seq.) states "no ticket or share shall be sold to any person under the age of 18. Any licensee who knowingly sells or offers to sell a lottery ticket or share to any person under the age of 18 is a disorderly person." To this end the New Jersey Lottery reminds players and retailers that it is against the New Jersey Lottery Law to sell tickets to any person under the age of 18. Lottery staff is looking for opportunities and ways to reinforce the policy with lottery retailers by : |
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Continuing to inform and educate retailers regarding the penalties for selling lottery products or paying prizes to persons under the age of eighteen (18). |
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Continuing to require retailers to monitor lottery vending machines to ensure that persons under the age of eighteen (18) do not purchase tickets and continue to assist retailers in the placement of vending machines to ensure that retailer personnel can monitor machines. |
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Pursuing all complaints vigorously by the New Jersey Lottery Security Unit and responding appropriately to ensure compliance. |
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Reminding customers not to involve their minor children in their lottery gaming activities and to set a responsible play example for their children. |
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Continuing to work with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and educational institutions to promote education programs for the youth of the State. |
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If you or someone you know shows symptoms of problem gambling, there is hope. Problem gambling is a treatable illness. With proper treatment, problem gamblers can begin the recovery process and regain control of their lives.
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