Countdown To Keno In Reading Begins

Whether it's the occasional scratch ticket, a daily number, or that one-time purchase when the payoff is so big it makes national news, there are few Reading residents who can resist the lottery's call. Admit it, you like to play.

Mega Millions, Powerball, Megabucks, The Numbers Game, Mass Cash, Lucky For Life, and if you've got an itch you can scratch $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, and $30 Instant Tickets. But until now, you couldn't play Keno in Reading.

At Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting, Reading adopted its first Keno policy, clearing the way to join neighbors like North Reading, which has roughly 20 places you can play the lottery game. By a 4-0 vote the Selectmen approved a policy that should have Keno available in town by Labor Day. (Subscribe to Reading Patch and like us on Facebook for more local news and alerts.)

For those not acquainted with Keno, it's an online lottery game in which a player selects from one to 12 numbers from a field of 80 numbers. The lottery randomly selects 20 numbers and depending on the quantity of numbers matched and validation of the ticket, the player may win a prize. In other towns you may have seen them in bars/restaurants like Kitty's in North Reading, or at convenience stores.

With the policy now in place, businesses can start applying for a Keno license on Aug. 1. If the state approves the application, it will notify the town and Reading will have 21 days to object to the issuance of the license. If there's no objection, then the business will get its license. If the board does object a public hearing will be held. Regardless of the board's objection, the state could still go ahead and grant the license. The town has asked the state that all Keno establishments be 500 or more feet from where children typically congregate like a park or school. And the town will ask that all Keno television displays face inward and away from the outside.

So if you're getting tired of scratching, or watching others win the $300,000,000 Powerball drawing, there will soon be a new game in town.