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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Lotto Tix as a Gift? MN Campaign Says Don't Buy Them for Youth

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Monday, November 28, 2022   

With Thanksgiving over, the holiday shopping season has the full attention of many Americans. But in Minnesota and elsewhere, people are being asked to be responsible when buying lottery tickets as gifts.

The Minnesota Lottery and the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling are again taking part in an annual campaign to discourage giving scratch-off tickets and related games to kids under 18.

The Alliance's Executive Director Susan Sheridan Tucker said while giving one or two tickets as a stocking stuffer might seem harmless, a child can misconstrue how often someone can win.

"So," said Tucker, "if they happen to get a ticket that gives them money, it sends a message that, 'Oh, well, this is pretty easy. Every time I do this, I'm going to get a reward.'"

She said most young people aren't familiar with the actual odds of winning.

Tucker added that there's growing concern about gambling trends among teens. The most recent Minnesota Student Survey found roughly 10,000 students reported having gambling-related problems.

The broader campaign is led by the National Council on Problem Gambling.

The Minnesota Lottery's Public Affairs Strategist Marie Hinton said in addition to sending the wrong message, adults need to remember that it's a matter of following the law.

"By law, in Minnesota," said Hinton, "a person must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a lottery ticket or to redeem a lottery prize, that's very clear. And it's also clearly stated in the contract that all of our retailers sign."

She said that message is also reinforced in newsletters and training information retailers receive.

And this should stick with adults not only during the holidays but year-round, as it can be a concern for graduation season and other milestone celebrations.

The Alliance says parents should also pay close attention to built-in gambling components in online video games, to see if any troubling patterns emerge.



Disclosure: Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling contributes to our fund for reporting on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Consumer Issues, Mental Health, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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