On February 22nd, 2008, Ohio residents could start playing the game of keno in July, after the Ohio Lottery approved the rules that will be used in the game. In a five-three vote, the panel gave their approval to the rules that will allow for keno drawings in a span of four minutes from 11:04 a.m. and 1:44 a.m., seven days a week.
The prizes would start from $2 to $2 million, if players can get all of the ten numbers that are drawn in a random basis. Gov. Ted Strickland gave permission to the game of keno back on January 31st, 2008 as a way to raise the funds needed for education, which is around $73 million in a yearly basis. Opponents of that decision said that authorizing the use of fast draws will only push the game into casino game categorization.
Although the lottery commission does not have any power to overrule the decision of Strickland, about three of its members voted against the new keno rules because they believe that the game is not right for the state.
Commissioner member Jon A. Allison is one of those people that voted against the rule because he believes that it should not be treated like an express lane meal because it should be enjoyed as a good social experience. Officials from the lottery commission said that the game of keno could start operations in 1,950 areas by the end of the year.
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John Sullivan
