Montreal, December , 2005 - With the holiday season right around the corner, many parents and family members are searching to find fun and exciting gift ideas to finish up their last minute shopping. Gambling products such as instant scratch tickets, bingo cards, and lottery tickets are often popular stocking stuffers or great items to slip into someone's Christmas card.

Lottery products are popular because they are affordable and easily obtainable. Results from a recent study in Quebec show that 31% of high school students have received one or several lottery products as a gift during the preceding 12 months. This finding, coupled with the growing concern of adolescent problem gambling in general, prompted the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors to partner with Loto-Québec to raise public awareness on the issue that underage youth should not receive lottery products as gifts. This holiday season, we are pleased to once again join efforts with Loto-Québec in order to continue to promote this important message.

Research shows that the majority of adolescent gamble and that lottery product may be a gateway to more problematic forms of gambling. Furthermore, many problem gamblers report beginning gambling during childhood, often with family members, as early as ages 9-10.

Since the sale of lottery products is reserved to those 18 years of age and older for the protection of their well-being, it's important to sensitize and inform parents. Just as most parents would not offer their children cigarettes or beer as a Christmas gift, we are hopeful that parents will adopt the same position towards lottery products.

This holiday season, when offering a lottery product as a present, make sure you keep the person's age in mind.

For more information contact:

1. Carmen Messerlian, Director of Program Development and Communications, International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, McGill University, 398-4438, carmen.messerlian@mcgill.ca

2. Jean-Pierre Roy, Director of media relations, Loto-Québec, (514) 499-5151