Virginia

Virginia Lottery urges adults to ‘Scratch the Idea’ of gifting lottery tickets to minors

Published

4 months ago

December 10, 2025

Virginia Lottery urges adults to ‘Scratch the Idea’ of gifting lottery tickets to minors

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Lottery and the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling are urging adults to gift responsibly this holiday season, warning that giving lottery tickets to anyone under 18 can normalize gambling and increase the risk of addiction.

The Virginia Lottery and the council have partnered for years to raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling and are encouraging adults to choose age-appropriate gifts this holiday season.

The groups released a public service announcement this week called “Scratchers for Kids?—Scratch That Idea” as part of a seasonal campaign on social media and other outlets.

The PSA’s message is direct: Don’t give children scratch-off tickets or other lottery products as gifts.

“Just as you wouldn’t give a child alcohol at Christmas, don’t give them a lottery ticket,” said Dr. Carolyn Hawley, president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling.

Officials said well-meaning adults sometimes slip lottery tickets into stockings or hand them out as small gifts, but this practice is dangerous and inappropriate.

They warned it may raise the likelihood that a child will develop gambling problems later in life.

“We want to discourage participating in gambling for as long as possible. We want to keep it safe, we want to keep it fun and to do so, let’s delay early onset for children,” Hawley said.

Hawley said the younger someone starts gambling — whether with a scratch-off ticket or on sports-betting websites — the greater the chances of developing a problem.

She and other officials noted a recent uptick in younger people seeking help and calling hotlines for gambling-related issues.

“We know they didn’t start gambling between 18 to 24; they started much earlier,” Hawley said.

Officials also noted that giving lottery tickets to minors is illegal.

They said their hope is that parents and guardians will set positive examples and model healthy behavior.

“They’re watching and they’re seeing, even if you’re not aware that that’s happening. So pay attention, recognize and understand the risks that can happen and model good behavior for your children,” Hawley said.

The Virginia Lottery and the council have partnered for years to raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling and are encouraging adults to choose age-appropriate gifts this holiday season.

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Virginia

Virginia State Parks recognized as a 2026 top Virginia employer for interns

Published

10 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Virginia State Parks recognized as a 2026 top Virginia employer for interns

VIRGINIA – Virginia State Parks just earned a major accolade. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced that the park system has been named a 2026 Top Virginia Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

This honor celebrates employers who go above and beyond in mentorship, professional development, workplace culture and giving students real opportunities to contribute.

“DCR recognizes the exceptional work Virginia State Parks does to open doors for students and service members pursuing careers in conservation,” said DCR Director Nikki Rovner. “This recognition underscores Virginia State Parks’ dedication to fostering future leaders, and it’s gratifying to see their efforts recognized statewide.”

Virginia State Parks offers a range of hands-on experiences through its internship programs, including the new Ranger Conservation Corps, which launched in 2025, and participation in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program for transitioning service members. The Ranger Conservation Corps is designed to immerse students in natural resource management, environmental education and park operations.

“Developing the next generation of conservation leadership in Virginia is critical to our mission to protect and conserve Virginia’s natural and cultural resources for the future,” said DCR Deputy Director of Operations Frank Stovall. “Our state parks personnel, with support from our human resources team, have created an award-winning program that prepares interns for the next steps in their conservation career.”

Every year, Virginia State Parks hosts interns from colleges, universities and service members from across the state.

To learn more about internship and career opportunities with Virginia State Parks, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.

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Virginia

Greensburg Central Catholic star Erica Gribble changes plans, follows coach from Richmond to Virginia of the ACC

Published

23 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Greensburg Central Catholic star Erica Gribble changes plans, follows coach from Richmond to Virginia of the ACC

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Virginia

Virginia’s Spanberger Approves Workplace Heat Safety Standards

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Virginia’s Spanberger Approves Workplace Heat Safety Standards

Virginia will join a growing list of states with workplace heat safety standards that private-sector employers must follow under legislation approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

The bill (SB 288) tasks the state’s Safety and Health Codes Board with creating standards for indoor and outdoor workplaces no later than May 1, 2028, adding Virginia to a handful of states that have dictated heat safety protocols in the absence of a federal standard.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration continued work on developing a national heat safety rule in 2025, but President Donald Trump’s deregulatory goals are likely to yield a more employer-friendly standard than those passed in Democratic-majority states.

Virginia employers will be required to provide water, access to shade, rest periods, acclimatization, and training for working in heat. High-heat procedures would take effect at a temperature threshold to be determined by the board in its rulemaking.

Deciding on an appropriate temperature threshold to trigger protections has been a notable challenge, both in state proposals and OSHA’s federal regulatory efforts.

California, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington state have mandated workplace heat safety standards, while Colorado has imposed a standard specific to agriculture workers.

Virginia regulators previously considered a workplace heat safety proposal but halted the rulemaking process in late 2021, with some board members citing concerns it would conflict or be redundant with the federal regulation that they thought at the time would be implemented soon.

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