To set these findings in context, young people who have ever experienced play on a National Lottery draw based game or scratchcard, were asked how the purchase was made.

It’s important to note that the number of young people who self-reported experience of National Lottery draw based games is small (base size of 96), so the figures should be interpreted with caution. However, the data indicates that for both draw based and scratchcard games, in the vast majority of cases someone else made the purchase for young people.

Nine in ten (90 percent) young people who had played National Lottery scratchcards said that someone else purchased the scratchcard using their money and allowed the young person to scratch the numbers off (47 percent). While two in five (38 percent) young people stated someone else purchased the scratchcard using their money and gave it to the young person perhaps as a gift. Only 6 percent said that someone else made the purchase but used money belonging to the young person.

Similarly, 85 percent of young people who bought a ticket for a National Lottery draw based game said that someone else made the purchase for them. Once again, in the majority (53 percent) of cases the young person’s own money was not used to make the purchase, but they were allowed to pick the numbers, although 25 percent stated that the ticket was given to them. Less than one in ten (7 percent) said that someone else made the purchase but used money belonging to the young person.

One in twenty young people who gambled on a National Lottery draw based game, bought a ticket themselves with their own money (4 percent). Similarly, one in twenty young people who purchased a National Lottery scratchcard used their own money (5 percent).

Figure 15: How National Lottery draw games and scratchcards were purchased

Figure 15 information

HANDED. Thinking about the last time you played National Lottery ticket and/or scratchcard which statement best describes how you purchased and paid for the item?
Base: All 11 to 16 year olds answering who have played National Lottery draw based games (96). All 11 to 16 year olds answering who have played National Lottery scratchcards (280).

How National Lottery draw games were purchased

Figure 15: How National Lottery draw games were purchased.
Purchase mode for National Lottery draw game tickets	Percentage who purchased using this mode
Someone else purchased the ticket using their money, and let me pick the numbers	53%
Someone else purchased the ticket for me, using their money	25%
I purchased the ticket with someone else's money	10%
Someone else purchased the ticket for me, using my money	7%
I purchased the ticket with my own money	4%
I last bought the ticket online and/or using an app	1%

How National Lottery scratchcards were purchased

Figure 13: How National Lottery scratchcards were purchased.
Purchase mode for National Lottery scratchcards	Percentage who purchased using this mode
Someone else purchased the scratchcard using their money, and let me scratch off the scratchcard	47%
Someone else purchased the scratchcard for me, using their money	38%
I purchased the scratchcard with someone else's money	4%
Someone else purchased the scratchcard for me, using my money	6%
I purchased the scratchcard with my own money	5%
I last bought the scratchcard online and/or using an app	0%

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Who young people are with when playing a National Lottery product?

Last updated: 9 November 2022

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Young People and Gambling 2022: Official statistics

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Buying a National Lottery draw ticket or scratchcard

Figure 15: How National Lottery draw games and scratchcards were purchased

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How National Lottery draw games were purchased

How National Lottery scratchcards were purchased

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