Oregon is addicted to the lottery.  It funds schools, salmon recovery, economic development, you name it.  When I hear lottery funds are being used for a project I think “oh good, they don’t have to raise taxes.”  

Lottery money isn’t free.  As several House committees heard last week, Oregonians lost $1.27 billion dollars gambling in 2004.  That equals $457 for every Oregon adult.  1 in 25 Oregon teenagers (who can’t gamble legally) are either problem or pathological gamblers.  That means at least one addicted teen in most high school classrooms across the state.

Sure, not all of people with gambling addictions are playing video poker, or buying Sports Action tickets.  They might be at Spirit Mountain, or Chinook Winds, or other places that gaming is legal.  The state can do little to change federal policy on Indian casinos.  But, is it right for the state to ignore the human cost of gambling, just to fund state parks?

Those least able to afford gambling are most likely to become addicted.  Is the $449 million in socio-economic costs – child neglect, domestic violence, bankruptcy, even suicide – worth it?

Oregonians voted for the lottery, and now we’re addicted to the funds.  I, for one, would be willing to kick in an extra $457, and get rid of state sponsored gaming, and the human cost that comes with it.