Keno revenue for NH?

Although Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) did not include casino revenue in her latest budget proposal, she did include revenue from Keno.

Keno is a lottery game offered in bars and some other establishments that serve alcohol.  A player selects numbers on a slip, and a computer generates random numbers every four minutes.  The player gets a payout for matching numbers from the computer and the slip.

Massachusetts has offered Keno since 1993.

"Six of the ten most lucrative Keno locations in Massachusetts are located within five miles of the New Hampshire border. Allowing Keno and self-service lottery terminals would help bring that revenue back home to invest in our priorities," Gov. Hassan argued in her budget address.

Keno opponents argue the game brings many of the ills of slot machines.

Last year Robert Kay, vice president of the board of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, testified against Keno before a House Committee.  "Gamblers can and do wipe out paychecks, family food budgets and worse in one evening at Keno locations, which over time would be located within a very short distance from virtually every New Hampshire household," said Kay.