Most people who play games of chance do so because they find it fun and entertaining. They usually decide in advance how much time and money they can afford to spend on the games. They view this as the cost of their entertainment. This helps keep their play within their own personal limits.
At the Oregon Lottery, supporting customers to play responsibly is central to our business goal to keep your entertainment entertaining. The Lottery recognizes that some people can develop difficulties with gambling. They may play beyond their time and money limits, which can have a negative impact on them and the people around them.
The Lottery provides information and support to help all customers understand the games and how to keep their gambling within their own limits. Retailers are also provided with training to offer information and support to people who might be having difficulty managing their gambling.
Lines I bet?
Credits per line?
Hours per week?
The Cost of Play Calculator is a useful guide to help players understand how much they will spend on Video Lottery or non-Oregon Lottery Slot Machines in the long run (after many sessions, over a long period of time).
The percentage the game is designed to payout and/or keep.
*Note: the amount bet can range from 1 cent to $1.
How fast a player gambles.
*Note: the default speed on the calculator is set to the slowest speed of play, most people play faster.
How often a player gambles.
Looking at the cost of play over time will help gamblers get a practical view of the long term costs involved in playing games of chance.
When someone gambles, it is not possible to know the cost of play in the short term (after just one or a few sessions of play) because the results can vary widely due to the randomness of the game. However, in the long run, the Cost of play is more predictable and can be estimated using this calculator.
The calculator shows the average amount per hour, per month and per year that players spend on games of chance. This cost includes all wins and losses.
If you choose to gamble, here are some tips from the Oregon Lottery:
Whenever video lottery is part of your entertainment budget it is important to understand how much your entertainment will cost. Like any other entertainment - a concert, movie, or nice dinner out - you'd look at prices and decide how much you were willing to spend on a particular activity. The video lottery cost to play calculator let's you do the same thing for video lottery terminals and slot machines. This is a great tool because it illustrates the true costs of gambling over time - and gives you information you need to make decisions about your gambling.
MYTH: There are Video Lottery terminals (VLTs) that are "hot."
FACT: All VLTs always take in more money than they pay out. The machines are random and the chances of winning never change. No matter how many losses or wins the machine has paid out recently, previous spins have no impact on the next outcome. This means there is no such thing as a “hot” machine.
MYTH: Some VLTs are “due” to pay.
FACT: Each spin of the VLT resets the game, and the game is not impacted by what happened on previous spins. All wins and losses are entirely random. There is no set pattern and no way to predict the outcome of a game.
MYTH: Players can control the outcome of a game.
FACT: It is impossible for a player to control the outcome of a game. VLT wins are paid out randomly, exactly like lottery prizes. Nothing players do can impact the outcome. Remember: they always pay back less than they take in over the life of the game.
MYTH: VLT payouts are adjusted by the Oregon Lottery®
FACT: While VLTs and the Lottery's central computer system are constantly communicating, the Lottery's central computer can’t make changes to the way specific VLT games play, nor can it make any changes to payout rates. Software located within each VLT controls all information specific to the games, including their payout rates and their randomness. The software runs independently from the central computer system.
MYTH: It is possible to "chase" losses and win them back.
FACT: The opposite is usually true! Typically, the longer someone plays, the more money they spend. Even though the payouts are random, all VLTs always pay out less than they take in over time. Chasing losses can be a very risky form of play and usually ends up with the player losing even more than they intended. Playing any type of Oregon Lottery game should be done as a form of entertainment.
GamTalk is an anonymous online community for people with gambling issues to share their experiences and ideas. Whether you have a gambling problem, know someone who does, have stopped gambling completely, or just want to get ideas on playing safely, GamTalk can help.
You can leave comments or take part in the discussions on the forum. There is no judgment and you just might find the support, story of hope, a friendly ear, help or information you need.
If you think you, or a loved one, a friend or a co-worker has a gambling problem, visit OPGR.ORG. Oregon Problem Gambling Resource is a resource for people who need help with a gambling problem or addiction. Take a quiz to determine if you are at risk, see videos of other people who have struggled with the same issues (who are now in recovery) and gather information about how to get on a path to personal and financial recovery. Support is free and confidential, not only for the gambler, but also for family members. Help yourself and those around you, visit OPGR.ORG or call 1-877-695-4648 and start your healing process.