Nearly two years after Keno received a sound defeat in Concord, the New Hampshire Lottery Commission is hoping the Capital City will give the game another try.

1. Nh Lottery Keno Locations
2. Nh Lottery Keno Numbers
3. Nh Lottery Keno Winning Numbers
4. Nh Lottery Keno Locations

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Commission executive director Charlie McIntyre asked councilors on Monday night to consider asking city voters again on November’s ballot whether the “Keno603” game should be allowed in Concord.

Concord voters rejected Keno in a 2,249 to 1,723 vote and was one of the few cities to deny the game in 2017. Dover shot it down 1,509 to 1,164 and Keene denied it 1,450 to 820. In Rochester, the measure failed by a single vote.

In some cities, like Portsmouth, the question never made it to the ballot. Keno is currently approved in 84 municipalities across the state and a portion of the proceeds are used to pay for full-day kindergarten in the state.

The commission wants to see the game – and revenues – grow.

“As you folks know, if the citizens say no, we’ll move on and be back in two years,” McIntyre said.

At least one city councilor seemed skeptical.

“If I understand this correctly, director, you’re going to come back to us every two years to put this back on that ballot, and every two years voters of this city vote no, you’re going to come back to us?” asked At-Large Councilor Byron Champlin.

“I have no plans in two years, I don’t know what I’m doing next weekend,” McIntyre replied. “But we’ll be here incessantly – many legislative initiatives honestly take a number of years before they’re approved.”

Take, for example, the lottery, which McIntrye said went up for a vote 10 times before it was approved in 1963.

“Sometimes good ideas take a while to sit,” he added.

McIntyre sang the praises of the game from a business perspective, saying establishments that allow it see more spending on food and drink items, usually in the early afternoon. He said the game pulled in $24 million in revenue last fiscal year and is expected to generate $36 million this year.

But that figure isn’t inclusive of expenses like retailer incentives, administration and prize payouts, which take a significant chunk out of the bottom line. A Monitor report in February found Keno revenues were estimated to be lower than the $11 million that was necessary to cover the minimum additional adequacy for full-day kindergarten under the “kenogarten” bill, SB 191. Communities like Concord that rejected Keno still get kindergarten revenues generated by the game.

State law allows for Keno to get on city ballots in two ways: either the legislative body elects to put it there or through citizen petition. Public records show McIntyre has also asked Keene to reconsider the question.

Keno sales started in New Hampshire on December 15, 2017. As of the summer of 2018, 63 towns and cities in New Hampshire allow keno at bars and restaurants.

What is keno?

The New Hampshire Lottery describes Keno as follows:

During each KENO 603 game, players choose from one to 12 numbers, and every five minutes a computer randomly generates and displays 20 winning numbers from 1 to 80 on a video monitor. A player may place a wager from $1 to $25 per game. The more numbers players match, the more they win.

Visit the NH Lottery website to learn more about the game of keno or to find where to play

Nh Lottery Keno Locations

How does keno work in NH?

Before any bar or restaurant can offer keno, the town or city must approve the game.

After that, establishments with a valid liquor license can apply for a $500 annual license to offer keno. The state then provides the keno equipment.

Where does the keno money go?

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The licensee keeps 8% of the revenue from keno sales. 1% goes to the state for gambling addiction treatment and prevention. The remaining 91% – minuses expenses – goes to school funding.

In particular, keno provides extra revenue for full-day kindergarten programs. Before keno, all public kindergarten programs in the state were funded as half-day programs.

Since there hasn’t yet been a full year of keno, there is not yet a full financial report. However, in just the first six weeks of keno there were over $1 million in sales.

Is keno good for NH?

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Keno supporters argue that it benefits the economy by boosting business at restaurants and bars. Keno also provides much-needed education funding.

Opponents argue that keno is too much like slot machines, and increases the risk of gambling addiction across the state.

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Do you have an opinion on keno? Share your opinion in the comments below.