Problem Gambling Ignored as Oregon Seeks Revenue

Deciding that a self-imposed ban on television ads for video gambling to protect problem gamblers is less important than feeding the government's unending need for revenue, Oregon lottery officials ok'ed TV commercials.

Desperate for revenue, the state of Oregon is allowing lottery operators to break a two-decade-old promise and use television advertising to entice more gambling play. Concerns about drawing residents into problem gambling are being shrugged aside as the greed of government for funding overcomes any social conscience existing among lawmakers.

A state smoking ban has largely created a $400 million decline in Oregon state income from video gambling, according to KATU-TV. Lottery officials have already begun cycling the first two ads for video gaming on state television stations, seeking to prop up the gambling revenue big government spending requires.

Lottery operators justified the decision to create the TV ads as a simple extension of advertising for other lottery products.

“Video is our most popular ad revenue-producing game,” Chuck Bauman, spokesman for the Oregon Lottery, told the television station. “It just makes sense that we treat it like all of our other products.”

Steve Keeley, a counselor for problem gambling victims, said the advertising could spur compulsive gamblers trying to stay away from gaming.

“It’s an involuntary exposure to that stimulus, and it can potentially be a trigger for some people,” he said.

Bauman said the television commercials were a good move "because our mission is to maximize revenues for state programs."