On February 11th, 2008, the administration of Gov. Strickland considered expanding the Lottery in Ohio with a keno game almost a year ago but did not pursue the idea until the recent budget deficit. Keno was recognized as one of the most controversial variations of the Lottery games, according to the documents that are passed in response to a request from the Dispatch public records.
Matthew L. Martin, an analyst from the Office of Budget and Management wrote in a memo that was made on February 1st, 2007 commented that potential criticism of the project is big with this option as betting on games of luck would be visible in restaurants. Gov. Ted Strickland just announced last week that he is thinking of adding keno into legal age places like bars to produce an additional $73 million annually.
The move is part of the cuts and other changes to supplement the $733 million budget deficit by next year. Strickland spokesperson Keith Dailey commented that the pick of which establishments will offer keno will be up to the Lottery Commission to decide. The Strickland administration considered other games by last year to boost the dropping gaming sales and renew public interest in Lottery products in the state.
But critics said that Strickland is a hypocrite because he has opposed expanding gaming in the state last year and opposed the placement of video gaming machines from bars. But Strickland commented that by offering keno, which will utilize, minimum size video monitors to show the results of the game, is a whole different from the video gaming machines because it will be properly regulated by the state and it will be under the lottery that was approved by the voters back in the 1970's.
Mardele Cohen, the Lottery Commission Spokesperson commented that the February 1st, 2007 memo states other new casino games that were approved last year like the Sunday drawings, which began in May 20th, 2007 and the Daily Draw Keno, which started in August 7th, 2008. The Pull Tab instant bingo games, which are allowed in Ohio charitable establishments, where evaluated for social areas and traditional lottery retailers where dismissed and nowhere on the list.
[03-03]
John M. Thorpe
