Our “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” campaign is part of a larger global initiative called “Gift Responsibly,” that is led by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University in Canada. The initiative incorporates educational messaging about the risks of youth gambling across marketing efforts and product offerings. All U.S. and Canadian lotteries are participating this year, as well as lotteries from Ireland, the Ukraine, New Zealand, the UK, and more.

And several years ago, CT Lottery employees came up with the great idea to combine spreading this important responsible gambling message with a way to further give back to our community by coordinating this toy drive to help kids in need of comfort at Connecticut Children’s.