AIBU to think a birthday scratch card win was harmless fun?

[Fidbdfb]

It was my daughter’s birthday this week, and I got her a scratch card just for a bit of fun.

She ended up winning £100 from a £5 card.

I mentioned it to a friend, but she felt quite strongly that she’d never let her child do anything like that, as she sees it as gambling.

It felt a bit over the top to me, to me it was just a harmless bit of fun for a special occasion....

Is she being over top?

Way over the top
it’s a bit of fun
hope she enjoys spending her winnings!

How old is your daughter? If she's over the legal age to use scratchcards I don't see the odd one as an issue. People think nothing of playing the regular lottery every week.

How old is she?

I remember our teacher buying each of us a lottery ticket as we were too young to buy them. Think it was a massive rollover that everyone was talking about at the time. None of us were scarred for life by it. Your friend sounds mad.

It depends how old the child is really.

I’d not want my child to equate gambling and winning at an early age when they don’t also understand that they’re more likely to lose.

She is 13.

Probably a bit young for scratch cards even as a one off, but not the huge deal your friend has made it into.

I think you just need to make sure your dd knows they don’t usually win!

I'm very anti-gambling as it can have such dire consequences, and I think it sets people up with a bad mindset often. So, if she's over 16 I guess it's ok as a one off, but not something I'd encourage.

You have to be 18 to buy/play a scratch card.

I have no problem with my younger kids having them occasionally. We put the odd one in a Christmas stocking.

They have learnt all too soon that they rarely win.

Lots of people really hate gambling though, many with very good reason.

Well, if letting her win £100 on a scratch card isn't a way to encourage a child to gamble I don't know what is.

I wouldn’t say anything but 13 is far too young imo. I’ve got two 14 year olds and can’t imagine doing this. Just make sure she realises most people lose.

It’s not something I would do as it is gambling and I wouldn’t want to introduce a problem. Same with other addictive things.

My SIL always gets us a couple for Christmas and our kids are much younger! We have fun scratching them off

Well its not like I picked the scratch card knowing it was a winner now was it!!

I didn't 'let her win'... If I was going to let her win anything it would be the jackpot and I would of kept it for myself!

Did you let her keep the £100? If it had won thousands, would you have expected her to give most of it to you?

That's why I would never buy a scratchcard for anyone. Most of the time you are giving them something worthless, but if it is a winner there will probably be bad feeling.

I bet she was thrilled!

It's fine.

13 is probably too young in my opinion.

She’s jealous

Make sure you put it in DD savings account or use it for a fun experience for you both

Arghhhhhh 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

the world is going mad😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

@Fidbdfb of course it's just a bit of fun. But that's being stopped! Can't be having fun these days.

lucky dip & tombola to go next!

13 is too young. I think traditionally you'd get scratch cards for an 18th birthday.

You are encouraging a child to gamble. I wouldn't do it, personally.

What if she'd won the jackpot? Would you confiscate £100k to pay off the mortgage or let her keep it?

I suspect you didn't think it through.

It isn't like you buy her one regularly. It was a bit of fun and she won! I wouldn't worry about it

I think that’s a you problem? Most people would just be happy for their friend or loved one in that situation ime

Of course, it’s her £100!

I’d have been happy for her no matter what she won. If it had been £5,000, I’d have suggested putting it aside for something she might need in the future, like a car. And if she’d won the top prize, I’d have encouraged saving it towards something big, like a house.

I only buy scratch cards for people I’d genuinely be thrilled to see win, and I truly am so happy that she did!

And just to clarify what I meant about keeping it myself..
I meant that if I somehow had the ability to pick only winning scratch cards, then I’d probably just buy them for myself in general!!

I’m pretty anti gambling and I don’t think I’d buy one for my own children (although mainly just because it’s something I’d not think to buy full stop) but I don’t think it’s a big deal generally and I wouldn’t think anything of it if a friend told me they’d done the same as you.