by Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier Reporter
Keno is coming to Ohio.
The online lottery game was approved for Ohio players in February by the Ohio Lottery Commission.
Twelve businesses in Portage are among 1,001 the Ohio Lottery said will offer the game beginning Aug. 3. Two hundred ten will offer it in Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties.
Businesses with Class D liquor licenses are eligible for the game, which is expected to generate in excess of $70 million per year to pay for education and help balance the state budget in the face of cutbacks, according to Gov. Ted Strickland's office.
Players pay $1, $5, $10 or $20 and chose between one and 10 numbers on a card.
A video monitor displays 80 numbers, of which 20 are drawn at random every four minutes from 11:04 a.m. to 1:44 a.m.
Payouts -- from $2 to $2 million -- depend on the amount bet and the numbers chosen.
Kent Lanes at 1524 S. Water St., is one of the establishments that will offer Keno.
Jim Palmer, owner for the past year, said the bowling alley had lottery games in the past and that he had always intended to bring them back.
"I don't know if it's going to drive business, honestly, but being that we're so diverse -- you can get your shoe rental, bowl a few games, play volleyball for a few hours, get some food -- I just thought it would be another option or enhancement to someone's night out," he said.
A FORMER sales representative for Brunswick Bowling Corp. before he bought Kent Lanes, Palmer said he saw the positive impact of Keno on a bowling center in West Virginia.
"It didn't tick off people who didn't like to gamble, and those who liked to play could come out, fill out their card and quietly play their Keno," he said.
Owners of the other establishments on the list could not be reached for comment by press time.
Palmer said Keno and bowling could be a good package for patrons 21 years old and above. He said he doesn't believe it will lead to slot machines.
"Nothing tells me we're going to have gambling in every bowling center," Palmer said. "It's a nice option, not something flashy and glaring in the corner."
Other Portage County keno sites will be:
Kent -- Ciccone's Cafe on Cherry Street, Checkers-N-Trophies on West Elm Street and The Pub on West Day Street.
Brimfield -- The Outpost and Jagers Pub and Brew Thru, both on Route 43; Garrettsville -- Skylane Bowling on Windham Street and Sean's Pub & Eatery/Slim & Jumbos on Main Street.
Mantua -- Village Tavern on Main Street and The Deck at Routes 44 and 82; Streetsboro -- Streets Bar and Grill on Route 14 and Scorchers Casual Eatery on Market Square Drive.
"We want to draw in more business and support the Ohio Lottery," said Angelo Rullo, general manager of Ravs Creekside in Twinsburg, which also will offer the game.
"With the lotto issuing so many licenses in the state, we might as well be first on board [to get Keno]."
Editor's note: Reporter Chelsia Marcius contributed to this story.
E-mail:dobrien@recordpub.com
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