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Residents Wary of Addition of Keno

Some of the residents in Bolton are concerned with the idea that state officials may be adding keno to the offering for gamblers. They say that mostly poor or lower income people will play the game and that essentially equates to a tax on the poor. Residents say that it is a “regressive tax” and that although it may not be illegal, it is morally wrong.

The money that will come from the keno games will mostly come from the lower income people, and yet the revenue will mostly be enjoyed by upper income people. They say that the statistics speak for themselves – mostly lower income classes will play slots and similar games, while the upper income classes will play the tables, if they play at all. They say that the majority of problem gamblers come from the uneducated, and that is the group who will most likely be playing the slots and the keno games.

The reason the idea of keno came up is that a local restaurant would like to offer it to their patrons. The Board of Selectman have voted to not oppose the restaurant in their bid to bring in the machines, much to residents’ dismay. The board says that Keno is completely different from lottery tickets and slots and feels that the restaurant should be allowed to have it if they want it.

The Lottery Commission says that residents have it wrong. That those that play lottery, or slots, or keno, don’t fall in a particular class or income level. They say that they see players from all walks of life and that the addition of keno won’t change that. They say that by adding them to a family style restaurant you won’t get addicts, you will get people out to play and have a good time.

Back to December 2007 Archive.