Does it really come as a surprise that state-run video poker sales are starting to dive? The games are completely rigged. All of the games are a simple mathematics program designed to create an exact return on investment for the state and the retailer. The younger generation that grew up on computers gets it and the older generation of players is dying off. Common sense dictates sales will continue to drop and there is no way to tweak it or make adjustments to the games to stop the bleeding and return the profits to where they once were.
Sadly, former Gov. Ted Kulongoski made lottery revenue part of the state's day-to-day budget on his way out of office. Now Salem, the legislature and the lottery commission will be forced to find a way to make up this regressive form of revenue. As usual, they will likely run to the tax payers. At the end of the day, Oregon is better off without video lottery terminals. They will always ruin more lives than they will ever help.
-- James Maass, Beaverton
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