After approving the use of the electronic lottery game Keno in town last year, Greenville residents will be voting on the matter again in March, following a petition article that asks to rescind the permission.

Keno is a game in which players can choose up to 12 numbers from a field of 80, and 20 winning numbers are randomly chosen every five minutes. On a $1 bet, a match of all 12 numbers wins $1 million, with the prize multiplied by the amount wagered, on bets of over $1. Players can choose to select only one number, or up to 12, with prizes multiplying for matching more numbers.

Individual towns must agree to allow Keno in their borders, and Greenville has taken up the issue twice. The first time was in 2019, when the town voted against allowing it. In March of 2023, Greenville’s American Legion Post 13 was interested in installing a Keno game in its post, and filed a petition article to allow it. This time, Greenville residents agreed, approving it in a 27-17 ballot vote.

The same issue will be back before voters again on March 16, as a new petition article submitted to the town states, “To see if the town will vote to rescind the operation of Keno games within the town of Greenville, NH.”

During a public hearing on the article Wednesday, Town Administrator Tara Sousa said no business in town has yet to install a Keno machine, but the American Legion and Johno’s Greenville Market have both expressed an interest in doing so.

While a few members of the public did attend the hearing, no one offered any arguments either for or against the article, and the hearing lasted only minutes before Select Board Chair Carla Mary declared it adjourned.

The vote to rescind Keno will be taken by secret ballot, as prescribed by law, but that ballot vote will take place during Town Meeting on Saturday, March 16, and not at the polls on Tuesday, March 12, during the town election.

Keno has been approved in the towns of Jaffrey and Wilton, but has been rejected in votes in Rindge and Bennington.

The town election is scheduled for March 12, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the MascenicSAU offices, also known as the former Greenville Elementary School, located on 16 Adams St.  Town Meeting is scheduled for March 16 at 9 a.m. at the MascenicSAU offices.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.