Martz and other critics have long pointed to the state’s conflicted position: Through the Oregon Health Authority, the state provides mental health services, including funding to treat gambling addiction, as well as a variety of other services to families of those afflicted with a gambling addiction. “We need to prevent further public health impact and get some legislation in place.” “Oregon is uniquely dependent on lottery tax revenue at the expense of our public health,” says Kitty Martz, executive director of the advocacy group Voices of Problem Gambling Recovery. The state’s reliance on gambling makes critics uncomfortable.

The player base is still maturing, and sports betting is becoming much more mainstream.” “We launched with Scoreboard and then switched to DraftKings,” Shelby says.

Lottery spokesman Matt Shelby says the agency is pleased with the growth of its sports book, which since 2022 has been operated under a new contract with DraftKings. Although sports betting accounts for just a small fraction (3.3%) of total lottery sales last year, the agency is counting on young sports bettors to replace some the aging video lottery players over time.