The state of Oregon has reported a decline in gambling across the state. Because of this Oregon Lottery Officials have decided to add video poker games as well as slot machines to the local bars in taverns in an effort to increase gambling revenues.

Three new styles of video poker games will be added to local bars and taverns along with nine new slot games. Terminals have already been added to several businesses in Oregon in the hopes that player interest will be boosted.

This is the sixth time the lottery has seen a decline since it was added in 1992. Lottery Officials are trying to keep the lottery from suffering and they want sales to increase as the lottery is responsible for the state’s government program funding. The funding includes $1 billion in educational revenue each year but many are opposed to adding machines to build state funding. Many think the states program funding should be created by tax dollars and not by residents losing money from video poker and slot games.

Four hundred gambling terminals have been added already to bars and taverns and another two thousand one hundred video poker machines and slot machines are expected to be installed soon in retail businesses. So only time will tell if the additions will help the state in their funding or if the games will just sit dormant.






- 2009-09-07