State Warns Parents: Don’t Let Your Kids Play Scratch Offs

It's probably a good idea.

The states lottery division issued their yearly warning, which says while it's legal to have kids scratch off the actual scratch offs, it's probably not a good idea to attract them to gambling.

The States Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services commissioner Arlene Sanchez Gonzalez told the Poughkeepsie Journal that "At holiday time, adults should consider that there are certain gifts, like scratch off lottery tickets,that are not appropriate for kids, and that could put their well-being at risk down the road."

Just so we are clear, its not illegal for kids to scratch the tickets, but a state law does ban stores from selling lottery tickets to anyone under age 18.

If a minor does win a prize less than $5,000, when they attempt to claim it, the payment will be made to an adult member of the minor's family or a guardian. If the prize is more than $5,000, the Lottery makes the payment to the parent or guardian's bank, according to the Journal.

The State is encourage people to keep the scratch offs out of the hands of children and if you know someone that has a gambling problem there is a hotline set up for help, 1-877-846-7369.