The people that are opposed to Governor Ted Strickland's idea to bring a Keno lottery game into Ohio's bars and restraints has almost completely disappeared. The State Controlling Board is made up of six lawmakers and a Strickland representative and they again delayed approval on Monday of a contract that would operate the game.

They delayed their approval because the contract's current holder is asking the Ohio Lottery Commission to reconsider their decision to change vendors. Back in March the panel delayed the vote because they wanted to have public hearings on the bill. Then two lawmakers introduced legislation that would have kept Keno out of Ohio.

But Strickland says that game and the $73 million dollars the state could expect in revenue in the first year is necessary to help plug Ohio's $733 million dollar hole in their budget. But people are not to worry the Keno game should start on schedule as the delay only affects the testing schedule for the new contractor according to Lottery Director Michael Dolan.












- 2008-06-02