Giving a child scratch cards for Christmas: why it's a bad idea ?

Offrir des jeux à gratter à un enfant : pourquoi est-ce une mauvaise idée ?

As Christmas approaches, the National Gaming Authority reveals that 20% of French people plan to offer scratch cards as gifts to children. A seemingly innocuous gesture, but one that is not without consequences.

Gambling is prohibited for those under 18. While 94% of French people consider gambling to be a dangerous activity for children, even riskier than social networks or screens, one in five people are thinking of offering it to their children for Christmas according to a Toluna – Harris interactive survey for the National Gaming Authority (ANJ). Including 14% of parents who will offer a scratch card game to their children. And while more than half of those surveyed consider it inconceivable to offer scratch cards to children, a quarter of French people have already done so.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Gambling, not child's play

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, President of the National Gaming Authority (ANJ), warns: “the earlier the gambling, the greater the risk of addiction.“

Thus, various studies have shown that children introduced to games at the age of 12 are four times more likely to become compulsive gamblers later. Before the age of 25, the decision-making areas of the brain are not completely mature. Adolescents may have difficulty understanding the dangers of gambling, which makes them more impulsive.

A first win at a young age can then lead to confusion in the minor. “This makes them believe that it is normal to gamble, that you can win money by playing and that there is no risk in doing so“, underlines Julie Caillon, psychologist in the addiction department of the Nantes University Hospital, quoted by the Youth Information and Documentation Center. “He will also associate gambling with pleasure, with good memories. He will then be more inclined to move towards this type of game in adolescence or adulthood. He will have a very low awareness of the risks associated with it.“

5 tips to support your child

Do not accustom him to gambling from a young age. As you can see, buying him a small scratch card when you go shopping is not harmless; Discuss with him the dangers of gambling and explain to him that it is not a way to earn a living; Be careful about your emotions when faced with gambling. Limit your practices in their presence; Book playtime with your child… without money; If you notice a risk of your children and adolescents drifting off course, consult the website www.joueurs-info-service.fr.