​Lottery Commission Hails 7 Communities That Approved Keno

CONCORD, NH — Voters in seven cities across New Hampshire cast ballots on Nov. 7, 2017, in favor of bringing KENO 603 to their communities, according to the New Hampshire Lottery. Berlin, Claremont, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, Rochester and Somersworth approved the ballot measure which will allow the game to be installed in bars and restaurants while Concord, Dover, Keene, and Portsmouth voted against the measure.

The city of Franklin approved KENO 603 in its municipal elections last month, noted New Hampshire Lottery Director of Marketing Maura McCann.

“Voters have now had their say on KENO 603 in a number of cities across the state,” McCann said. “We are pleased that these cities have decided to support the new lottery game in order to help fund public kindergarten. The most important part of this process is that local citizens have had the chance to decide what they want for their communities.”

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.

Approved establishments could offer KENO 603 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days per week, and only those 18 or older would be allowed to play.

KENO 603 retailers would be paid an 8-percent sales commission – the highest in the country – as well as additional bonuses. Along with KENO 603, licensed businesses would be able to sell all of the other available lottery games.

Gov. Chris Sununu, R-NH, signed SB 191 in July establishing KENO 603 relative to funding full-day kindergarten in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Lottery estimates KENO 603 could generate as much as $9 million in annual net profit. Beginning in 2019, the state would utilize the revenue generated from KENO 603 to increase funding for full-day kindergarten from $1,800 per student to $2,900 per student.

Dozens of towns will decide on bringing KENO 603 to their communities at Town Meetings in 2018.

To learn more about KENO 603 and to apply to become a retailer visit nhlottery.com/keno.

Content and image via New Hampshire Lottery.