Doing a few chores outside on Sunday, I was approached on my driveway by two male children who asked me if I wanted to give them €2 to enter my details in a draw. They were carrying small brown envelopes with sticky labels on the front. The idea was that I write my name/phone number on the front of the envelope which then became an entry in a draw of some kind. I didn't ask the lads the details of the mechanisms of the draw, the prizes, or what percentage went out in prizes and how much was retained to support the cause they were advocating for. I didn't ask if the draw was licensed.
I asked if their parents knew where they were and that what they were doing was gambling, that they were too young to engage in such an activity, and I asked why they weren't accompanied by an adult. They responded that their parents gave them the envelopes and “sent them out” to sell them. I pointed out that I wasn't "giving out" to them, that I could be wrong in my assessment of the situation, but to pass my concerns back to their parents. I said they were free to note the number of my house and their parents were free to contact me if they wished. No irate adults arrived at my door.
I see more of these envelopes at cash registers in shops and filling stations and I'm concerned about the legality of them. In this country, we have a serious gambling problem, if we're to believe the ads on the radio and telly featuring prominent sports personalities, and the last thing we need is yet another opportunity to normalize gambling for the children in our society.
Apart from the gambling issue, I have parenting and child protection concerns here.
Should I contact the Guards? I remember when we sold raffle tickets as kids, printed across the bottom of the receipt we issued to the gambler, was information about the permit granted by a named Garda Superintendant, in other words, it was all licensed and above board. I see no evidence of policing authority approval for the sale of these plain brown wrappers.
Thoughts, please.
I asked if their parents knew where they were and that what they were doing was gambling, that they were too young to engage in such an activity, and I asked why they weren't accompanied by an adult. They responded that their parents gave them the envelopes and “sent them out” to sell them. I pointed out that I wasn't "giving out" to them, that I could be wrong in my assessment of the situation, but to pass my concerns back to their parents. I said they were free to note the number of my house and their parents were free to contact me if they wished. No irate adults arrived at my door.
I see more of these envelopes at cash registers in shops and filling stations and I'm concerned about the legality of them. In this country, we have a serious gambling problem, if we're to believe the ads on the radio and telly featuring prominent sports personalities, and the last thing we need is yet another opportunity to normalize gambling for the children in our society.
Apart from the gambling issue, I have parenting and child protection concerns here.
Should I contact the Guards? I remember when we sold raffle tickets as kids, printed across the bottom of the receipt we issued to the gambler, was information about the permit granted by a named Garda Superintendant, in other words, it was all licensed and above board. I see no evidence of policing authority approval for the sale of these plain brown wrappers.
Thoughts, please.
), and so far we aren't aware of anyone spending their mortgage money on it.