I've always wonder why can teenagers play the lotto/POwerball or Sweepstakes?
Pumpi, no matter where one lives or what language one speaks, a 20 year old is not a teenager. Also, an 18 year old is certainly not on the same maturity level as a 12 or 13 year old. In fact, 18 year olds are currently fighting in Iraq. If they're old enough to die for their country, they're old enough to buy lottery tickets.
However, when a child is under 18 and living with his parents, he's usually a dependent. By law, parents are responsible for their children and, in many states, they are held accountable for their actions. So a child is not free to make decisions about money in most cases.
Playing the lottery is gambling. Young people need to learn responsible ways of saving their money. Buying lottery tickets isn't one of them. But if a person is living on his own, earning his own rent and board, he can blow his wages anyway he desires. He can legally suck down carcinogenic smoke, burn his brain out with alcohol (at 21) drive a steel killing machine that can mangle a family of 5 in only seconds, and even get married and have his own children to screw up, because he is considered to be an adult.
Gambling should be DIScouraged, not ENcouraged. Being competitive is something altogether different. Getting to the top and winning is a wonderful goal to teach, but not because there's a big payout when you get there. Children have plenty of time once they reach adulthood to discover that money & power rule this world. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to be wealthy. I just think as a society we've lost our sense of values. It seems as if everything has a price tag on it, including integrity.