ilani not impacting Oregon Lottery as badly as predicted

COWLITZ INDIAN RESERVATION — Oregon Lottery revenues near the Oregon-Washington border have dropped since ilani opened last year, but not as bad as economists expected.

The Oregon State Office of Economic Analysis reported this week that video lottery sales in ZIP codes near the border dropped 15 percent in the past year, since ilani opened near La Center.

But the agency had forecasted sales there to drop by as much as 40 percent.

“The casino has now been open for one year and there has been a noticeable impact on Oregon video lottery sales,” the office wrote. “However, the impact is considerably smaller than was initially expected.”

Likewise, the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde also took a smaller-than-expected hit at its nearby Spirit Mountain Casino, the report said.

Economists cautioned that bigger wounds to lottery revenues could still be on the way. Casino openings around the country tend to lift lottery sales for a year or two nearby, the report said. Plus, upcoming amenities could draw more revenue away.

“Further expansions may include a buffet, and a hotel to attract overnight guests and make it more of a destination and not a day trip activity,” the report said. “In the event any of these options materialized, our office would re-asses the impact on video lottery sales.”