Lottery Launches Annual “Not 18 Yet? No Bet” Awareness Campaign

TRENTON– Officials of the New Jersey State Lottery and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. met today at Lottery headquarters to kick-off the New Jersey Lottery’s annual “Not 18 Yet? No Bet” Awareness Campaign. Both organizations are placing renewed emphasis on their continued commitment to responsible play and the prevention of underage gambling. This campaign is held each year to coincide with the American Gaming Association’s annual Responsible Gaming Education Week, scheduled this year August 2-6.
“This State Lottery has a longstanding commitment to promoting responsible play and discouraging underage gambling of any kind,” said Acting Executive Director Carole Hedinger. “We have an active partnership with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey and look forward to working with them for years to come on a myriad of responsible gaming outreach efforts.”
As part of its efforts, the New Jersey Lottery has launched re-distribution of its “Not 18 Yet? No Bet” brochure to retailers and players. This brochure provides information about the major types of teen betting and some of the signs to recognize that could indicate problem gambling in teens. In addition, the brochure directs concerned individuals about where to go for advice and help. This brochure is available at each of 6,100 registered Lottery retailer locations, at all Lottery-sponsored exhibits and events, as well as through the Lottery website www.njlottery.net. In addition, the “Not 18 Yet? No Bet” slogan and the 1-800-GAMBLER ® Helpline number are continually included on Lottery’s digital messaging screens at all retailer locations.
“I am very grateful to the Lottery for their support and commitment to all of our initiatives,” said Donald Weinbaum the Council’s Executive Director. “The Lottery continues to be a great partner in promoting the importance of playing responsibly and in publicizing the 1-800-GAMBLER ® number. If a parent thinks their child might have a gambling problem, they can call that number for advice and helpful resources.”
Today, the Lottery provided the Council on Compulsive Gambling with additional “Not 18 Yet? No Bet” brochures, as well as supplies of pencils for distribution to students who attend the Council’s high school lecture series. The pencils contain the message “LOTTERY IS NOT CHILD’S PLAY, You Must Be 18 Or Older To Play The NJ Lottery” and they help in the effort to combat underage gambling by publicizing that reminder.
The Lottery has participated on the Council of Compulsive Gambling’s Board of Directors since June 1999. Furthermore, the Council’s problem gambling helpline number (1-800-GAMBLER®) is printed on every Lottery ticket, brochure and sign, and appears as a tag line on the Lottery’s radio and television advertisements. Finally, the Lottery’s website directs visitors to the Council’s site (www.800gambler.org) which provides the public with free information and help for compulsive gambling.
About the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc.
Since 1983, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. has helped problem and compulsive gamblers and their families. The group was one of the pioneers in the compulsive gambling field and remains one of the leaders in providing professional and compassionate services to a wide range of audiences. The Council’s mission is to provide prevention, education and referral services to anyone affected by this illness. They operate the most widely recognized gambling help number in the nation, the 1-800-GAMBLER® Helpline. The help number is now available in 20 states and offers 24-hour, immediate, confidential assistance to anyone affected by gambling problems.
About the New Jersey Lottery
Since its inception in 1970, the New Jersey State Lottery has contributed over $18 billion to State education and institutions. The New Jersey Lottery saved taxpayers over $887 million in fiscal year 2009 by returning game proceeds to important educational programs and State-run facilities. On average, six thousand businesses throughout the Garden State prosper from their partnership with the New Jersey Lottery. Among the Lottery’s beneficiaries are: veterans homes, community and other colleges and universities, school nutrition programs, homes for the developmentally disabled, psychiatric hospitals, higher education scholarship programs, and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf.