Powerball hits Washington, paves way for national lottery

VANCOUVER, Wash. – For the first time, Powerball has come to Washington. Tickets for this multi-state lottery game went on sale Sunday in outlets throughout Oregon's neighboring state.

The Oregon lottery already faces plunging revenues from its video machines: the largest percentage drop in the nation. This change creates one less reason for people to cross from Washington into Oregon for tickets.

Hayden Island hit hard
The lure of a large Powerball pay-out – $107 million this week – used to bring Washington customers to Oregon retailers like Original Joe's in Hayden Island. Now, the tradition may be over.

"It's hard to get over here," said Haley McCoy at Original Joe's, "so they're ecstatic to go down the street to buy it" instead. 

It's a hit to Oregon's lottery revenue that even may extend beyond Powerball tickets.     
          
"I think it's going to take a lot of money from the state," McCoy said, "because when people come over to buy Powerball they also buy [Oregon's] Megabucks."

Now people in Washington can find Powerball at 4,000 stops throughout the state.

"It's about time," said gambler Steve Fairchild, checking his tickets at a Vancouver retailer. "I get tired of having to go all the way over there."

He'll no longer need to make his twice-weekly run to Oregon, which is good news as far as Fairchild is concerned: "It makes us a little happier now that we can all dream for a big pot."

Other factors
Oregon gambling revenues dropped 15 percent in 2009, and retailers worry they'll stay down through 2010. It's not just Washington's addition of Powerball that's a factor, they say. It's also the state's smoking ban.

"A lot of people want to go to Indian casinos because they can smoke there," said one retailer.

She has her own theory why the ban is costing lottery retailers money: "People here want to have all their vices together, want to be able to gamble, want to be able to smoke and drink all together."

Video gaming is down 22 percent from a year ago. The Oregon Lottery officially credits the smoking ban and the recession. In August, the Oregon Lottery Commission also began negotiations to reduce the amount paid to Oregon lottery retailers.

Foreshadowing of changes to come?
Word on the street is that the latest addition of Washington state to the Powerball roster moves the U.S. one step closer to a national lottery. See "Big lottery games may join to create national game."

Those who espouse this concept say they hope a national lottery could happen by spring 2011. However, gambling advocates haven't come up with a name or other details yet.