Revenue from Keno, newest Ohio Lottery game, comes up far short of state’s expectations

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Lottery’s newest game fell far short of revenue projects in its first full year, another blow to Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to balance the state budget.

Strickland said the Keno game would show a profit of $73 million as a way to prevent deep cuts in education funding. Lottery figures show that the game yielded $30 million during the 12 months before July 31.

The projections assumed that 2,000 retailers would carry the bingolike Keno game, but only about 1,200 retailers have signed up, said lottery spokeswoman Jeannie Roberts.

Other factors in the revenue shortfall included the time it took to educate people on how to play the game and the tanking economy, Roberts said.