Lottery tickets sold to teenagers: What happened in Utrecht?
•
18 Jan 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes A case has recently come to light in the Utrecht region of the Netherlands that has caused a stir. Some sellers of the National Lottery have lost their jobs after selling subscriptions and lottery tickets to minors during a promotional campaign. This incident highlights the dangers of ethical shortcomings in an already strictly regulated sector.
An illegal and condemned practice
In the Netherlands, it is strictly forbidden by law to sell lottery products to persons under the age of 18. However, during a recent campaign at Utrecht Central Station, some sellers deliberately violated this regulation by falsifying the birth dates of teenagers in order to sell subscriptions and lottery tickets. According to information from the website RTV Utrecht, these practices immediately led to sanctions.
“The sellers were dismissed for failing to comply with their duty to respect ethical and legal rules,” a spokesperson for the Dutch National Lottery stated. As a remedial measure, the contracts of the minors involved have been cancelled and the amounts invested have been refunded.
Measures to prevent new abuses
Following this incident, the Dutch National Lottery has announced a series of corrective measures. In addition to improved control protocols, additional training will be provided to sellers to make them aware of the risks and consequences of selling to minors. These efforts are intended to strengthen compliance with national regulations and restore public confidence.
The risks of gambling for minors
The participation of teenagers in gambling can have serious consequences. According to studies, young people are more susceptible to developing addictive behavior, which can damage their mental health and financial future.
“It is essential to protect young people from the risks of gambling by strictly applying existing laws,” stated an expert in addiction care.
Can this happen in Belgium?
In Belgium, the National Lottery also applies strict rules to prevent any form of participation by minors in its games. In accordance with the regulations, it is prohibited to sell lottery tickets or offer any form of gambling to persons under the age of 18.
To ensure compliance with this ban, the Belgian National Lottery carries out regular checks, including through “mystery shopping” operations. Sellers found in violation risk heavy contractual sanctions, which can go as far as the termination of their cooperation contract.