Is It Legal to Give Lottery Tickets to Children in Michigan?

Have you ever slipped a scratch off lottery ticket into a stocking for someone under 18 on Christmas? Ever wonder if that's actually legal?

Here's what we were able to find out about Michigan lottery laws and giving scratch-off tickets to minors.

While it's illegal to sell a lottery ticket to anyone under the age of 18, there is no law that prohibits giving one as a gift. Michigan law also appears to not say anything concerning a minor claiming the winnings off a ticket.

The law is a little more defined in neighboring Indiana where winning lottery tickets can not be claimed my anyone under the age of 18, unless the ticket was received as a gift (and how is someone supposed to prove that?)

In New York State, another location where it's legal to give lottery tickets, the state's lottery control board advises against the practice,

The New York State Responsible Play Partnership sent out their yearly reminder to parents, urging them not to give scratch off lottery tickets to kids. While it may seem like harmless fun, a child who plays lottery games could be at risk for problems down the road.

Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, the commissioner of the NY State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services says "People giving out gifts this holiday season need to recognize that lottery tickets are not appropriate gifts for children. These games can put young people at risk of developing problems with gambling, and we need to ensure that we take whatever steps possible to avoid those issues."

There is an online phenomenon called the Lottery Challenge where young people purchase a large amount of lottery tickets and attempt to recoup the cost of those tickets through winning - this video shows someone taking the Lottery Challenge in Michigan purchasing one of every Michigan Lottery scratch-off.