I was amused recently to see a story reporting on how Canadian lottery officials are warning parents over using lottery tickets and Christmas stocking stuffers, an increasingly popular gift it seems.

“Lottery tickets are for adults, not kids,” OLG spokesperson Don Pister told Canadian Press this week. “There are a lot of things we restrict to certain ages in our society, and this is one of them.”

Three Canadian gaming commissions are conducting campaigns warning parents about the perils of youth gambling, and lottery ticket stocking stuffers are part of them.

“(Lottery tickets) are inexpensive, they make good stocking stuffers, but for kids they really give the wrong message and they can create potential problems,” said Alissa Sklar of the McGill’s International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours. “It’s really important for parents, grandparents, caregivers to realise that lottery tickets, scratch cards and other lottery products are inappropriate gifts for those who are 18 and under.”

Why was I amused?  Because, when it comes to bingo, it used to be considered an educational tool in helping kids develop mathematical and memory skills. In fact I clearly remember receiving my first bingo game as a Christmas present and it was the big hit with me and my friends.

I’m amused at the Canadian reaction because I wonder what their response would be to me suggesting parents play online bingo games with their own kids.  I think bingo online would make a great Christmas present and that kids would love it as a way to pass the time.

Of course we don’t encourage kids to gamble, but there’s now harm in learning to play.  Many online bingo halls provide free introductory and beginner games.  It’s great fun and nobody has to bring money into it.
Written by John Witherspoon – How about playing bingo online? The best free online bingo games are just one click away.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2007 at 8:20 am and is filed under Online Bingo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.