Claremont
The vote came after a presentation by Maura McCann, director of marketing for the New Hampshire lottery, who explained how Keno 603 is played and what the financial benefits could be to the businesses that had keno in their establishments. Gov. Chris Sununu signed legislation allowing keno in New Hampshire on July 12.
If voters approve the ballot question McCann said the lottery commission would reach out to the 21 businesses in the city that serve alcohol — “pouring establishments” — and are eligible to sell lottery products.
The businesses would receive an 8 percent sales commission on every $1 keno ticket sold, McCann said.
“Not only is that the highest in the U.S., but our research has shown that patrons stay longer and order more food and beverages (where there are keno machines),” McCann said.
Keno is sold through self-service ticket machines. Multi-play machines also can dispense Powerball, Megabucks and scratch lottery tickets, McCann said.
Keno cards have 80 numbers and a player picks 12 for a minimum bet of $1. Drawings of 20 numbers are held every five minutes and displayed on a monitor. Tickets are only good for one drawing.
“How much you bet and how many winning numbers you have determines your prize,” McCann said.
The state expects to be running keno by mid-December and revenue estimates for the first full year of operation are nearly $44 million, McCann said. After the 8 percent sales commission, or $3.5 million, the 92 percent left is broken down to include about $8.3 million to the education trust fund, which will pay $1,100 per pupil for all-day kindergarten. Prize money totaling about $30.6 million, administrative costs total $875,000 and $400,000, or 1 percent, would pay for programs to assist “problem gambling,” McCann said.
“We feel these are fairly good estimates,” she said.
According to McCann, Massachusetts realizes about $1 billion in revenue from keno and about $25 million of that comes from New Hampshire residents.
“What we would like to do is retain those keno dollars in New Hampshire,” she said.
The council had few questions for McCann and did not comment before voting for the resolution to place the measure on the ballot. Under the new law, cities and towns must bring it to residents for a vote if they want it in their communities.
Manchester, Berlin and Concord all have voted to put the question before voters, McCann said.
City Councilor Nick Koloski, who owns Timeout Sports Bar on Mulberry Street, stepped down from the council during McCann’s presentation and did not vote on the resolution. When asked what he may do if voters approve keno, he said he was not sure and first would want to hear the presentation from the lottery commission.
“It does take away from service to customers,” Koloski said.
And while more people may come to an establishment because of keno, an equal number may decide to go somewhere else, he said.
Responding to a question from Councilor Allen Damren, McCann said the city still would receive money from the education trust fund even if voters rejected the ballot measure. If actual revenues exceeds estimates, the education trust fund would have more money to disburse for all-day kindergarten.
The council will hold a public hearing on the keno question at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 in the community center.
Also on Wednesday, the council bid farewell to Assistant Mayor Vic Bergeron, who is resigning as of Aug. 31 to move to Florida with his wife.
Bergeron, who is nearing the end of his fourth, two-year term, received a plaque and gift basket with a few items appropriate for living in Florida, including sunscreen and flip flops. He said he enjoyed working with everyone on the council and it had been his “pleasure” to represent the people of Claremont.
Councilor Carolyn Towle also announced she would not seek re-election in November for health reasons.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
Correction
Under the legislation that Gov. Chris Sununu signed on July 12 authorizing keno in New Hampshire, cities and towns interested in offering the lottery game must obtain voter approval to allow it to be played in their community. An earlier version of this story omitted that requirement and incorrectly described what occurred in July.
