Recordpub.com - Keno arrives Games available Aug. 3; 12 local businesses join hundreds offering it

Keno's arrived and as of Aug. 3, hundreds of businesses across the state of Ohio will offer patrons the opportunity to play. So far, 12 of those businesses are located in Portage County.

The game of chance, a form of gambling, is being permitted because the state of Ohio gets a share of the proceeds, enough so that Gov. Ted Strickland hopes he can fill a $700 million hole in the state of Ohio's budget in the biennium.

Winning numbers, produced randomly by computer, pop up on video monitors every four minutes with payouts ranging from $2 to $2 million depending on the size of the bets, which run from $1 per chance to $20.

Permitted in states like New York and Maryland for similar reasons, Keno has proved extremely popular, but whether it solves the budget woes of those states remains in question, as it will for Ohio for some time to come.

If nothing else, it will be one more gambling option Ohio affords those to whom gambling appeals, enabling players to keep their money in state rather than spend it in places like New York and Maryland.

In that economic sense it is good for Ohio, although some might question its social benefits and morality.

Who knows if it will take dollars that were once going to horse racing, the Ohio lottery and other legitimized gambling activities. It does appear that there is a given percentage of the population that likes recreational gambling and will travel far and wide to do it. Giving them the Keno outlet will keep more of their dollars in state.