Apparently It’s Illegal To Gift Lottery Tickets To Minors In Illinois

The world's best stocking stuffer is apparently an illegal Christmas gift.

Who doesn't love scratch-off lottery tickets? I'm in a Christmas gift draw with my family and I asked my wife just a few days ago if it was OK to just ask for lottery tickets. That's just how much I love getting scratch-offs.

Matter of fact, I used to get scratch-offs from my grandparents as gifts when I was a kid. It wasn't the only gift but I remember the thrill of winning money on my birthday or on a holiday. Today I realized my totally awesome grandparents were doing something totally illegal.

Harold Mays, acting director of the Illinois Lottery says:

What players may not realize is that it’s illegal to give an instant ticket to anyone under the age of 18 in Illinois.

A press release from the Illinois Lottery says:

Keep in mind that instant tickets are not gifts for the children on your list...because early gambling experiences are a risk factor for gambling problems later in life. Many young people even report that their first gambling experiences occur around 9 to 11 years of age.

That sounds like me. Many years later, I still like to gamble. I blame my grandparents.

Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK, Q98.5, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and like his page on Facebook.