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NH communities pass, reject keno

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On Tuesday, November 7 towns and cities across New Hampshire voted on various issues, including whether or not to allow keno.

Last spring the New Hampshire Legislature passed a bill to allow keno in restaurants and bars, if the town or city first votes to allow it.

Click here to learn more about gambling laws in New Hampshire.

Keno results

The following cities and towns approved keno:

  • Berlin
  • Claremont
  • Laconia
  • Manchester
  • Nashua
  • Rochester
  • Somersworth

The following cities and towns rejected keno:

  • Concord
  • Dover
  • Keene

About keno

Keno is a bingo-style game. Players choose a set of numbers and win prize money if their picks match randomly generated numbers on a video monitor.

Profits from keno will fund full-day kindergarten programs in New Hampshire. Under current law the state gives cities and towns funding for half-day kindergarten programs, equivalent to half of the per-pupil funding for all older students. Keno funds will increase the per-pupil funding for kindergartners.

Pros and cons

Supporters of the "keno-garten" plan point out that Massachusetts already offers keno on New Hampshire's border. If keno caused problem gambling and crime, southern New Hampshire would already be seeing those effects. New Hampshire should at least get the revenue and economic boost from keno.

Opponents of keno argue that the game is one of the more addictive forms of gambling, similar to slot machines. They argue it will erode the quality of life in New Hampshire, and that any increases in revenue will be offset by the cost of crime and other social ills.

Have your say!

When we asked our community about keno last year, most commenters supported it. Click here to read a summary of that discussion.

Some towns are already planning for a keno vote in March. Would you support keno in your town? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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