Ministers are set to raise the legal age for playing the National Lottery to 18.

EXCLUSIVE: The move comes after figures show more than 200,000 16 and 17-year-olds regularly do the Lotto and buy scratchcards, but any curb is not expected till 2023

But the move to curb problem gambling among the young is not expected to happen until 2023.

The Government is expected to act following figures showing more than 200,000 16 and 17-year-olds regularly do the Lotto and buy scratchcards.

It comes on top of a House of Lords report last month which revealed many of the 55,000 ­children with a gambling problem began by playing the Lottery.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of campaigners Clean Up Gambling said: “The younger you start gambling the more likely you are to fall into addiction. All gambling should be restricted to 18 and over.”

Tory Tracey Crouch tried to introduce the new age limit two years ago when Sports minister.

She told the Sunday People: “I always thought it should be 18.”

Raising the age limit is also supported by the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, the European Lotto Betting Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Dr Steve Sharman of East London University School of Psychology said: “Our research showed a robust link between legal youth gambling and adult gambling problems.”

Lottery operator Camelot is not against the change.

Boss Nigel Railton said: “For 25 years the age has been 16 so it is probably a good time to look at it.”

Britain’s youngest jackpot winner, Callie Rogers, now 33, who spent all the £1.8million she won at 16, wants the age raised too.

She said: “I was too young. Overnight I went from carefree child to adult.”

The change is most likely when the lottery licence comes up for renewal in 2023.

The Department for Culture Media and Sports said about a possible date: “We don’t have an update.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/under-18s-face-national-lottery-22528070