Under 18’s Unable to Play Lottery in New Impending Changes

Gambling legislation in the UK clearly states nobody under the age of 18 is permitted to gamble and anyone found doing so will be breaking the law and held to account, unless that is The National Lottery that is, and many have often wondered why the law for lottery and instant win games was different. After a lengthy and major gambling review, the Government announced on Wednesday new changes to who can play The National Lottery and it falls in line with all other gambling legislation.

From April next year, the minimum age to purchase lottery tickets and instant wins online will be 18 but these new rules will not come into force at retailers until October of the same year, giving the under 18 group some six additional months to play. The gambling review was needed to better protect young people and vulnerable people from gambling related harm, but many are calling for even tougher measures when it comes to spending limits and stakes.

The National Lottery was founded back in 1994 and it is true to say the gambling industry has evolved significantly since then, which is Mr. Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary has launched this major gambling review and he is quoted as saying in the local media: "Whilst millions gamble responsibly, the Gambling Act is an analogue law in a digital age. From an era of having a flutter in a high street bookmaker, casino, racecourse or seaside pier, the industry has evolved at breakneck speed. This comprehensive review will ensure we are tackling problem gambling in all its forms to protect children and vulnerable people. It will also help those who enjoy placing a bet to do so safely.

This builds upon our clear track record of introducing tough measures to protect people from the risk of gambling harm - banning the use of credit cards, launching tighter age verification checks, and cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals."

Major Crackdown on Stars

Evidence from consumers and operators are being heard in the review along with recommendations on how to better protect children and young people, with social ‘influencers’ being blamed for actively encouraging young people to gamble! Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston is also part of the review and was posed many tough questions from other MP’s on Wednesday, with Labour MP. Chris Elmor asking what the Government plans to do with social media influencers who are paid to promote gambling.

“One of the key areas we've seen huge increases in people taking up and partaking in gambling is around influencers,” he said. “I'd like to understand from the minister now what work he's doing now in tackling influencers who are able to target particularly children and young people and trying to encourage them to gamble. That really does need to be addressed long before this review is concluded.”

Mr. Huddleston replied: “Mr. Elmore will be aware that the Government is considering action in the broader issue of online harms and the role that social media companies play in that. That work will be undertaken alongside this review as well and we will certainly work together, and I'll work with colleagues in the rest of the department to make sure that we're very much aligned.”

Young Winners Stories

One of the youngest ever National Lottery winners was Callie Rogers who scooped a big win of £1.9million in 2003 at the tender age of just 16 and it was not long before she started to blow her new-found fortune! A month after her win she splashed out £180K on a bungalow and the rest was blown on breast enlargement surgeries (yes multiple!), sports cars, clothes, and drugs. Callie went from a broken family life on £3.60 per hour to a life of luxury over night and the impact was a dramatic one! After blowing her fortune, she considered taking her own life due to the financial strain of going from a millionaire to broke but has since gone on record saying having her son was the best thing that ever happened to her. Does she regret playing the lottery? Absolutely and even said she wishes she had never won!

At the other end of the scale…

…you have Tracey Makin, who was also 16 years old when she won the lottery jackpot. In 1998, Tracey, a then supermarket employee from Ireland, had the shock of her life when the ticket she thought was worth €10, turned out to be worth more than €1million! Unlike Callie, Tracey remained humble and with the guidance of her parents, she ploughed her fortune into several investments allowing her to live a modest and comfortable life, while still working full time!

Stuart Donnelly who in 1997 was just a 17-year-old when he won a share of a £25million syndicate, resulting in going from nothing to £2million overnight! According to his friends and family, his spending spiraled out of control almost instantly and he was just as miserable with money as he was with none. Leaving his life and job behind him, he took friends on lavish holidays and bought his mother a £90K home, but he also splashed the cash on other people including a £15K donation to a Glasgow hospital. Six years after winning, in 2003, he revealed he was having a tough time with unwanted attention of being a lottery winner. In 2010, Stuart Donnelly was tragically found dead at his home aged just 29.

We can expect major changes in the gambling industry in 2021, starting with celebs and the lottery and ending with…? Your guess is as good as mine!

Source: “Social Media Influencers Must be Stopped from Encouraging Children to Gamble, Says MPs as Ministers Ban Under 18’s from Playing the national Lottery”. Daily Mail. December 8, 2020.