On December 6th, 2007, David Lindsay is not petitioning state officials to repeal the lottery system. He just thinks that offering keno in a Bolton eating establishment this fall will just put an additional burden on people that have a low income. Lindsay, who is the chairman of the town's Advisory Committee, commented that there is not really a problem with the issue but he is just worried that a lot of people that has a minimum income will get addicted to the game.
Lindsay voiced his doubts just recently before the Board of Selectmen, which was debating on whether to allow keno in the Bolton Road house Bar and Grill. Just last month, the board voted not to block the restaurant in its plan to offer keno games in town. The chairwoman of the selectmen, Panny Gerken commented that she recognized Lindsay's worries but said that keno is different from selling lottery tickets, which is already happening in the Country Cupboard convenience store in town.
David Rosenfeld, the director of communications at the state Lottery Commission commented that the study shows that keno and lottery players are from different demographic groups. Eating establishments like the Bolton Roadhouse are a good place to offer keno.
The proprietor of the Bolton Roadhouse, Charles White commented that some of their customers requested keno so they have forwarded the request to the selectmen. Lindsay commented that his concerns are based on his personal experience. He added that he still remembers seeing the same people everyday buying lottery scratch tickets at a local convenience store when he was still working in the Financial District in Boston as a portfolio manager.
Margot Cahoon, the spokesperson for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling said that keno, scratch tickets and casino slot machines are just some of the games that are really addicting. These games can lead to compulsive wagering. Rosenfeld said that the Lottery Commission takes the issue of compulsive gaming seriously. Officials said that the profit from keno will be used for improvements and help pay the salary of firefighters and police officers.
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John Sullivan
