First page of Retailer RG Section:
RG Logo
Responsible Gaming is important to the Hoosier Lottery and our Retailers!
The Hoosier Lottery understands the unique relationship retailers have with lottery customers.
We also know that equipping our retailers to deal with customers experiencing problem
gambling while remaining sensitive to the customer, the retailer, and the Lottery is important.
A primary role of The Hoosier Lottery is to recognize and promote ethical behavior, responsible gaming,
and community service as a foundation of our success throughout Indiana.
What Hoosier Lottery Retailers Can Do:
 Remember that you can ask for identification to verify that our players are 18 years or older.
You can use the ‘born by’ date on the terminal screen to determine if the customer is old
enough to play the Hoosier Lottery.
 Keep the Hoosier Lottery’s Responsible Gaming brochure, “Be an informed player, Know your
game, Know your limit, Play within it”, stocked in your play center or on the counter where your
players purchase tickets. By keeping this brochure in stock you can ensure that people who
need assistance have a lot of information at their fingertips.
 Ask the Hoosier Lottery when you have questions about Responsible Gaming. Reach out to your
Lottery Sales Representative, our customer service representatives Monday through Friday 8:30
a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or you can email us at [email protected]. The Hoosier Lottery is here to
help you help your customers and our players.
 Educate your employees. Make sure they know the basics of responsible lottery play, what the
Hoosier Lottery Responsible Gaming logo looks like, and where the Player Responsible Gaming
brochure is located in your store.
Second page of Retailer RG Section:
Know the Odds
The Hoosier Lottery wants all of our players to understand the games they play. Knowing the games and
understanding the odds of winning is important for both Hoosier Lottery players and retailers.
It is important to remember that lottery games are based on random outcomes. These games of chance
are a form of entertainment, at a price to the player.
Depending on which game is being played, the odds of winning vary. Due to the random nature of
lottery games, it’s impossible to predict what combination of numbers will be drawn and overall odds
for scratch off games apply to the total number of tickets printed for a particular game, not to a
consecutive string of tickets. There is nothing that can be done to improve the chances of winning, but
a lottery player can decide how much to spend.
Scratch offs – Understanding the odds
Overall odds apply to the total number of tickets printed for a particular game, not to a consecutive
string of tickets. The overall odds of winning a prize are established when a game is printed and are
calculated by dividing the total number of tickets printed by the total number of prizes available.
For example:
A customer purchased six tickets for a game where the odds were one in four, and none of them were
winners. Doesn't this show that the prizes aren't awarded randomly?
No. Consider tossing a coin. It is certainly possible for a coin to come up heads four, five, or more times
in a row, even though the odds are one in two. Part of randomness is the concept that every ticket has
the identical chance of winning and that the result of one ticket has no impact on the next. Suppose
"one in four" meant that out of every four tickets there was exactly one winner. Suppose three tickets in
a row lost. In this scenario, you would now know that the next one is a winner. This is not random.
Third page of Retailer RG Section:
Know the Warning Signs
Know the warning signs of problem gambling:
Most people who participate in gambling do so responsibly and for entertainment. There is, however, a
small percentage of the population whose gambling behaviors become damaging to themselves, their
family and/or their workplace.
Signs of problem gambling:











Spending more time or money on gambling than able to afford or than planned.
Increased financial problems and debt
Visiting multiple lottery vendors in one day
Visiting one lottery vendor multiple times in one day
Hiding lottery tickets from family
Neglecting important responsibilities like work, school, or family
Continuing to play despite relationship troubles
Constantly thinking or talking about gambling
Gambling to escape worry or trouble
Borrowing money to gamble
Anxiety/Depression
Fourth page of Retailer RG Section:
Resources:
The Hoosier Lottery is committed to providing resources and awareness for responsible gaming.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem…
Call the hotline at 1-800-994-8448
Other Resources:
Gamblers Anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org
Indiana Council on Problem Gambling Inc: www.indianaproblemgambling.org
Indiana Compulsive Gambling Treatment & Prevention Initiatives: www.in.gov/fssa/dmha
Indiana Department of Mental Health: www.in.gov/isdh
National Council on Problem Gambling – ncpgambling.org
American Gaming Association – americangaming.org
North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries – naspl.org
Hoosier Lottery – hoosierlottery.com