Namely, it was reported this week that the Kentucky Lottery Board has nodded at the possibility of bringing internet lottery to the state. As Todd Hollenbach, board member and Kentucky's Treasurer explained, "Everyone knows the Commonwealth needs revenues. Nobody wants to raise taxes. What we're doing is offering more opportunities for entertainment dollars."
Such moves will see the state offer its residents keno gambling through land-based halls by 2014, revealed Arch Gleason, Kentucky Lottery President and CEO, who noted that Keno is a game similar to Bingo and its dedicated halls would be located in social settings like restaurants, bars and bowling alleys.
Furthermore, Gleason specified that they would reach out to their current retailers first, then offer it to new businesses – in total, they will need some 700 locations where players would be able to score wins of up to $120,000.
According to Hollenbach, setting up the Keno halls could take from six to nine months. He also opined that this move would probably be followed by some online gambling action, such as online scratch-off tickets.
"Over time, we think when they're both fully developed it could aggregate as much as $85 million on an annual basis, but that takes about ten years," confirmed Gleason, confirming Hollenbach's statement that the money coming from Keno and online games would be invested into scholarship programs.
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chillymellow
03/28/13, 11:03:25 PM
I am all for any state in the US bringing new perspectives to the online gambling issues at hand. As most US online gamblers know, something does need to be done to get the ball rolling on not only domestic internet gambling but also in placing regulations in effect for playing at foreign online gambling sites. So, when...
I am all for any state in the US bringing new perspectives to the online gambling issues at hand. As most US online gamblers know, something does need to be done to get the ball rolling on not only domestic internet gambling but also in placing regulations in effect for playing at foreign online gambling sites. So, when a state like Kentucky goes public with even the vaguest of plans regarding a state online lottery product, it is quite exciting. The revenue that can be generated from such a venture is staggering, and a blessing that the educational system could surely put to good use. There are so many states facing financial difficulties it is easy to see why internet gambling is becoming a more acceptable and popular option for the government to consider. Bringing KENO into the picture as a land based entertainment option for gambling revenue seems to be a solid plan, and one that they are already planning to implement. Incorporating the KENO play into already existing establishments should help with the start-up costs and I am sure that the Kentucky citizens will soon be enjoying playing KENO while out and about in places they already are visiting. Online scratch off tickets may be a great way to introduce the public to online gambling and should prove every bit as profitable as expected. I hope that opens up the doors for further ventures and provides a good model for other states to follow as the US moves toward the future and embraces the internet gambling phenomenon. Good luck, Kentucky.
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