Underage play

The 1994 National Lottery Regulations deemed that sales by retailers of National Lottery products to persons under 16 years of age were illegal. As regulator of the National Lottery, the National Lottery Commission has a specific objective to ensure the operator has arrangements to prevent the illegal sale of National Lottery tickets to under 16 year olds.

In order to monitor underage play of National Lottery games and illegal transactions, the National Lottery Commission is committed to undertaking tracking surveys of 12 to 15 year olds about their National Lottery play. This information is used alongside sales and other information to assess trends in illegal underage gambling on the National Lottery. The research commissioned by the National Lottery Commission also contributes to the wider body of academic research on gambling among young people.

• British Survey of Children, the National Lottery and Gambling 2008-09

  This report presents findings from the study, British Survey of Children, the National Lottery and Gambling 2008-09. It was conducted by Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of Gambling at Salford University.

• Ipsos MORI Young People Omnibus 2008 - Interim Study

  This report presents findings from the 2008 Young People Omnibus, a survey of secondary school pupils in England and Wales, carried out by Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of the National Lottery Commission.

• Ipsos MORI Schools Omnibus 2007 - Interim Study

  This report presents findings from the 2007 Survey of Secondary School Pupils, carried out by Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of the National Lottery Commission.

• Under 16s and the National Lottery, June 2006

  This report contains the findings from the 2005-06 Under 16s and the National Lottery study, carried out by MORI Social Research Institute on behalf of the National Lottery Commission.

• Under 16s and the National Lottery, Tracking Survey July 2000

  The main aims of this research were to monitor trends in the level of participation in National Lottery games by 12-15 year olds and underage sales of National Lottery products.

• Under 16s and the National Lottery, February 2000

  The main aims of this research were to determine the level of underage sales of National Lottery products and the prevalence of ‘problem gambling’ by under-16s on National Lottery scratchcards, and to compare these findings with the Fisher (1997) survey.

• Gambling and problem gambling among young people in England and Wales, 1998

  This study was commissioned by the Office of the National Lottery. The sample of 9,774 12-15 year olds was drawn from 114 schools in England and Wales.

• Under age participation in the National Lottery, 1996

  This study was commissioned by the Office of the National Lottery. The sample of 7,200 12- 15 year olds was drawn from 48 schools situated in 8 different regions of the country.

Related Links

• Protecting Players

  Protecting players is central to all that we do.