Lottery TV ads chance controversy for more revenue

PORTLAND, Ore. - For close to 20 years the Oregon Lottery said it wouldn’t air TV ads pushing video gambling, but hard times have changed things.

Those ads are on TV now and are already bringing in the cash and the criticism.

The two ads running this month are the first ever to show someone playing on video terminals.

Lottery revenue is down $400 million this budget cycle because of the smoking ban and the bad economy. With revenue down, lottery officials said it had to lift its self-imposed ban.

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

Concern arises because some people believe the advertisements will increase gambling addiction.

“I think it’s hard for some people to stay away from it, because it is addictive,” said Billie Baird, whose lottery game of choice at Kelly’s Olympian in downtown Portland is Video Poker.

“I’m sure there are other ways we could figure out a different type of revenue than pushing gambling,” said one man.

According to an Oregon report, there are 47,000 problem gamblers in the state and their average debt is around $30,000 each, and for two-thirds of them, their game of choice is video poker.

“Something about the sounds and images associated (with the games) are very engaging,” said Steve Keeley who counsels gambling addicts at InAct.

Keeley said he worries about the impact the ads could have on people, considering problem gamblers are a large part of the lottery’s revenue.

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

Lottery officials said the ads have already brought in $1 million more than expected.

“That’s a good thing for the lottery, but ultimately it’s a good thing for the state because our mission is to maximize revenues for state programs,” Bauman said.

Gambler’s combined debt in Oregon is estimated at $44 million.