Multi-state Keno Coming to Ohio, Georgia, Maryland & Michigan

Mult-state_Keno_Ohio, along with three other states – Georgia, Maryland and Michigan – are planning on offering a multi-state Keno (progressive) game sometime in 2015, Ohio Lottery officials announced.

Multi-state Keno Proposals were requested in November as officials were in search of a company  to manage the game. As of this report three different multi-state Keno vendors are slated to give presentations at the end of January , according to an informed source.

Ohio is no stranger to online Keno. The Ohio Lottery game allows players to play a Keno game every four minutes. It made its debut in 2008; opening in bars, bowling alleys, restaurants, private clubs and other venues throughout the state. Each year since its introduction sales have soared.

For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2014 sales were posted of $298.1 million. That amounted to 10.8 percent of the entire Ohio Lottery revenue. In the previous year, sales for the same period were $251 million.

The game of Keno allows players to choose from one to 10 numbers from a universe of 80 numbers. Just like a casino game that you might find in a casino. Currently the top prize is reported to be $100,000 with the drawings beginning daily at 6:04 a.m. A new game begins every four minutes with the last game at 2:28 a.m. In addition to the standard payouts, there is also a Booster Option which requires an additional bet.

In Ohio, Keno can be played at more than 1,400 establishments. Keno players can also buy tickets at any lottery outlet and watch drawings at the KENO drawing web page.

Currently Ohio’s has two multi-state games; Powerball and MegaMillions.

A multi-state Monopoly Millionaires’ Club game, which Ohio had planned to join this month, was discontinued in December. Poor sales and other factors led to the decision by 22 states and the District of Columbia, which launched the game in October, to halt sales of the game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio and three other states – Georgia, Maryland and Michigan – plan to offer a multi-state progressive Keno game this year, Ohio Lottery officials said.

A request for proposals was sought in November for a company to oversee the game and three vendors will give presentations at the end of this month, officials said at a recent meeting.

Keno, an online Ohio Lottery game that allows players to gamble every four minutes, debuted in 2008 in bars, bowling alleys, restaurants, private clubs and other locations throughout the state. Sales have increased every year.

Keno sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2014 were $298.1 million, or 10.8 percent of total Ohio Lottery sales. Sales were $251 million in the prior fiscal year.

Keno players choose from one to 10 numbers from a pool of 80 numbers for a top prize of $100,000. The drawings are held every day starting at 6:04 a.m. and occur every four minutes, ending at 2:28 a.m. A Booster option, which costs more, was introduced in 2010.

Keno is available at more than 1,400 establishments and players can also buy tickets at lottery outlets and watch drawings at the KENO drawing web page.

Ohio’s current multi-state games are Powerball and MegaMillions.

At one time Ohio had planned to join the  multi-state Monopoly Millionaires’ Club game, but the game was discontinued in December of 2014. Poor sales and other factors led to the decision by 22 states and the District of Columbia to put the stupid game in the poop shoot.