South Dakota Lottery Joins 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign

This holiday season, the South Dakota Lottery reminds citizens that scratch tickets aren’t appropriate gifts for children.

The South Dakota Lottery announced its commitment as a participant of the 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and community organizations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery use. The campaign is organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).

Research shows that early exposure to or participation in gambling during childhood is highly correlated with the development of a gambling problem later in life. Gambling exposure during childhood is sometimes through a lottery product, such as lottery tickets or scratch tickets. Often these items are given to a child by an adult who is unaware of the associated risks.

“The South Dakota Lottery prides itself as a viable source of entertainment and revenue for the state, and we also remind our players to play responsibly,” Executive Director Norm Lingle said. “Initiatives like the Gift Responsibly campaign are important to us, and we look forward to our continued participation.”

Throughout December, the South Dakota Lottery will promote responsible gambling by sharing educational resources and facts via social media, its website, retailer training, and more.

“Youth gambling is a growing risk that too often goes overlooked. The Gift Responsibly Campaign plays a vital role in helping families and communities understand the importance of keeping lottery products out of kids’ hands,” said Derek Longmeier, President of NCPG’s Board of Directors. “We’re grateful to the South Dakota Lottery for joining this effort and working to expand education and awareness to protect young people from gambling-related harm.”

The Gift Responsibly campaign is just a part of the South Dakota Lottery’s year-round efforts to promote responsible play. The Lottery provides responsible gambling resources on each of its products, including the toll-free problem gambling helpline.

The Lottery also reminds players to “Keep the Fun Good” through a dedicated webpage, regular social media messages, and an award-winning advertising campaign. The South Dakota Lottery has also received certification for its responsible gambling efforts through the NCPG and NASPL.

For more information on these resources, visit https://lottery.sd.gov/responsible-play/.