Stop Predatory Gambling

The Oregon Lottery is addicted to addicted gamblers

by spgadmin

According to a news report by The Oregonian, a major newspaper in the state, more than half the money the Oregon Lottery collects from video gambling — about $375 million last year — comes from a small number of Oregonians, many with big gambling problems.

These gamblers tell the lottery they lose more than $500 a month, every month. They represent only 10 percent of Oregon’s video gamblers but account for 53 percent of the money lost, according to an analysis of three years’ worth of the lottery’s data obtained by The Oregonian under the state’s public records law.

Losses from these heavy gamblers prop up the lottery’s profits, which in turn prop up the state budget.

There are many well-intentioned public officials and civic groups who covet lottery cash to pay for schools, parks and other state services – but most have no idea what the real costs are.

It’s time “no taxation by exploitation” became part of the lexicon of American democracy and we end the predatory gambling practices like those used by the Oregon Lottery.