Area businesses will offer online Keno lottery Aug. 4

Email To A Friend
Printer Friendly
Comments

---

by Chelsia Marcius

Reporter

In an attempt to raise profits and bring gambling into the digital age, 210 businesses in Portage, Cuyahoga and Summit counties are among 1,001 statewide agents that will offer the Keno online lottery game beginning Aug. 4, after approval from the Ohio Lottery Commission in February.

According to representatives of Gov. Ted Strickland's office, businesses with Cladd D liquor licenses are eligible to provide the game, which is expected to generate more than $70 million per year. Profits from the lotto will go toward public schooling and balancing the state's budget.

Edmond Gazdazko of Sto-Kent Family Entertainment, on 3870 Fishcreek Road in Stow, said his business will offer Keno to support Ohio education.

"We try to keep up with all the games that the state offers," he said. "Although the commission is minimal, I like the idea of the lottery because it supports the schools. The majority of our bowlers play during the winter season and [with Keno] every four minutes it's also a chance for them to win and be entertained."

Several businesses, including the American Legion Post 309 in Maple Heights, will adopt Keno to satisfy customers in the midst of what they consider a struggling national economy.

"We're putting it in because it's what people want," said service officer Joe Caputo. "It's just another shot to keep us afloat with the way things are going."

Other area establishments have additional concerns regarding income that they hope Keno will alleviate.

"We're considering having the game to help [pull in profits,]" said Chris Ritzenger, manager of North Lanes on 4190 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls, "since the smoking [ban inside public places] has not helped business."

Jim Palmer, owner of Kent Lanes at 1524 S. Water St. in Kent, said his bowling alley offered 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, but being that we're so diverse [in what we offer customers]," he said, "I just thought it would be another option or enhancement to someone's night out."

A former sales representative for Brunswick Bowling Corp. before purchasing Kent Lanes, Palmer said he has seen the positive impact of Keno on one bowling facility in West Virginia.

"It didn't [upset] people who didn't like to gamble," he said, "and those who liked to play could come out, fill out their card and quietly play their Keno."

Despite incentives to earn a few extra dollars or support the Ohio Lottery's education funding, area establishments also share a common interest to beat the competition.

"With the lotto issuing so many licenses in the state," said Angelo Rullo, general manager of Ravs Creekside on 9224 Darrow Road in Twinsburg, who will offer Keno to customers next month, "we might as well be first on board."

Some of the other businesses which will offer Keno are: Front Street Pub., 2358 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls; and Rockne's 2752 Hudson Dr., Cuyahoga Falls.

How to play the game: Players pay $1 through $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 a.m. to 1:44 a.m. Payouts, from $2 to $2 million, depend on the amount bet and the numbers chosen. For more information, visit www.ohiolottery.com.

Editor's note: Record-Courier staff writer Dave O'Brien contributed to this story.

E-mail: cmarcius@recordpub.com

330-688-0088 ext. 3145