Maura McCann, a representative from the New Hampshire State Lottery, spoke to the Bennington Select Board about Keno 603 Tuesday night and answered questions from the public about what it would mean for the town if the warrant article proposing Keno is approved by voters in March. 

Keno is a lottery game that involves choosing up to 12 numbers from a field of 80. Twenty winning numbers are randomly selected every five minutes between 11:05 a.m. and 1 a.m. Players can wager between $1 and $25, and there is the opportunity to win more in prizes if more is wagered.

“It’s really no different than any other lottery ticket we sell,” McCann said, other than the fact that drawings occur so often.

McCann said the game has the potential to bring “more foot traffic through the door” and people are likely to buy other items in the establishment when they purchase a Keno ticket. In bars and restaurants, Keno can have self-service terminals, but in convenience stores players have to buy a ticket from the counter and can validate the ticket in the store or through an app the state Lottery just launched. Keno monitors are not permitted in convenience or grocery stores.

The game was first offered in New Hampshire in 2017, and in the summer of 2022, legislation passed which expanded the game from restaurants and bars to convenience and grocery stores that sell lottery games. Individual towns and cities must vote on whether to allow Keno.

Currently, Keno is in 82 towns, nine cities and one unincorporated township in New Hampshire. In 2022, the game made over $53 million in total sales, and retailers made over $4.26 million in commission. McCann said they state has already sold $33 million in Keno in 2023.

If Bennington passes the warrant article, Harris Mini Mart would be allowed to sell Keno in addition to the other lottery games it already sells. Right now, Hillsborough is the closest location which sells Keno in four restaurants and a food mart in town, and it will be on the warrant in Lyndeborough and Greenville this year. Jaffrey voted to approve Keno in town in 2018.

McCann said 100 percent of net profit from lottery games is earmarked for public education, which comes out to about 20 percent for Keno sales. If the article passes, Harris Mini Mart would get 8 percent in sales commission on the game. Select Board Chair Jim Cleary said he had spoken to the owner of the market and “he is a firm believer this is going to help his business.”

Selectman David Foster said, “He plans on investing more than a quarter-of-a-million dollars to improving his store.” This would include adding electric charging stations and new lights, and Foster said it would mean “more tax revenue for the town.”

Some residents who attended the meeting were concerned about adding another lottery game and what it may open the door to.

“We started out with one game,” said Joe MacGregor. “We now have a box this big,” as he held out his arms. 

Some people also had worries about providing a vehicle for gambling addiction. McCann said they are aware new products can cause issues to those struggling with problem gambling and that the state does set aside funds to help people. 

If voted down, Keno could reappear on the ballot next year.

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