As the holiday season approaches, an alarming trend emerges in France where one in five adults plans to gift scratch cards to children or adolescents, raising concerns about early gambling addiction. The National Gaming Authority warns against this practice, which is illegal for minors. Research indicates that early exposure to gambling increases addiction risks, particularly with scratch cards. In contrast, traditional board games are beneficial for cognitive development, enhancing logic and mathematical skills among young children, promoting social and emotional skills that gambling cannot foster.