Are lottery scratch-offs addictive? Scratch ticket addiction
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Dec 4, 2024
,
01:16 p.m.
ET
Lottery scratch-off tickets may be the first experience someone may have with the concept of gambling. Scratch-off tickets are relatively cheap, easy to play and widely available at many places that people visit every day like supermarkets, gas stations and corner stores.
Although some may view lottery scratch-offs as harmless, thousands of people are susceptible to becoming addicted to scratch-offs and experiencing the harmful reality of gambling addiction. Knowing the reasons why lottery scratch-offs can become addicting and the signs of a gambling addiction can help you identify if your lottery habits have become problematic.
What are scratch-off lottery tickets?
Scratch-off lottery tickets are a popular and widely accessible form of the lottery that offer players a chance to instantly win prizes. Scratch tickets are straightforward and easy to play, thus making them appealing to many people who don’t engage in other types of lottery play. There are various types of scratch-off tickets that someone can buy.
Instant-win games involve scratching off specific parts and revealing if a prize has been won. Match-and-win games require the player to have specific matching numbers or symbols in order to win the corresponding prize. There are also Second-Chance games that allow players who did not win on their initial scratch-off to enter their losing ticket number into a second chance drawing. There are even Special Edition games that are limited release, such as holiday or event themed games that tend to have special prizes or types of game play to entice people to play.
Can lottery scratch tickets lead to gambling addiction?
Scratch-off lottery tickets can be a casual form of entertainment for many people, but there is the potential to become addicted to lottery play. Scratch-off tickets are widely available, affordable from an individual ticket cost perspective, easy to play and provide instant gratification if the ticket is a winner.
When someone engages in a behavior that stimulates dopamine production in the brain, such as purchasing and winning on a scratch-off ticket, it can cause the brain to crave continued dopamine production and make it difficult to stop buying scratch-off tickets. This, along with ease of access, is why lottery tickets are one of the most popular forms of gambling in the United States.
Dangers of scratch-off lottery tickets for kids
Gambling and scratch-off tickets may seem like an adult or age specific activity, but the reality is that an increased number of adolescents are being exposed to forms of lottery play and gambling at young ages.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) and Seton Hall University conducted a survey on the impact of early exposure to gambling on adults later in life. The study found that 43.3% of young adults were exposed to gambling between the ages of 11 and 16, with 5% of them exhibiting problem gambling behavior.
Common ways that kids may be exposed to gambling at an early age include:
Parents gambling habits
Scratch-off received as gifts from friends or family
Increased access and popularity of sports betting
Yale University School of Medicine also reported that children who were exposed to gambling or given lottery tickets at young ages were also more likely to experience problems with depression, alcohol and substance abuse.
Signs of lottery ticket gambling addiction
Buying a lottery ticket occasionally can be a completely fine activity for some people, but for others it can become a compulsive habit that negatively impacts their life. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the red-flag warning signs of a gambling problem so you can spot them in yourself or others.
Common signs of gambling addiction in lottery players can include:
Compulsive purchasing: Inability to stop buying lottery tickets, even if wanting to do so.
Higher amount spent: Increasing the amount of money spent on lottery tickets to achieve the same thrill.
Obsessing: Constantly preoccupation with thoughts of lottery tickets or how/when you can get more.
Negative Consequences: Continuing to play the lottery regardless of the impact it has on one’s personal life, relationships or job/schoolwork.
Withdrawal: Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when attempting to stop playing the lottery.
Compromised Relationships: Lottery ticket compulsion impacting personal relationships
Hiding or lying about it: Feeling guilt or shame after purchasing lottery tickets, or feeling a need to hide or lie about your habits.
Gambling addiction treatment for lottery addicts
There are specialized support programs that can help those struggling with lottery and gambling addiction. Treatment options will vary based on an individual's needs, but can range from inpatient facilities, outpatient treatment, individual therapy and self-help groups.
Online therapy can be an effective option for lottery ticket addiction and provides flexibility for those who may find the logistics of in-person treatment difficult. Birches Health offers care from the comfort of one's own home that’s covered by insurance. Birches has therapists that specialize in gambling addiction and can help people work to overcome their struggles, including lottery ticket addiction specifically.
How you can get started with Birches:
How popular are lottery tickets?
In 2023, Americans spent over $100 billion dollars on lottery tickets, making it the most popular form of gambling in the U.S. They are expected to grow by 43 billion dollars between 2023 and 2028, growing at a rate of almost 7%.
In 2021, the average American household spent $288 per capita on scratch-off lottery tickets, with those in Massachusetts spending a staggering $970 per capita per year. New York State has the highest rate of scratch-off lottery sales in the U.S with $10.54 billion spent in 2023.
