The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is planning to add electronic keno to two hundred bars and restaurants in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in March. Elizabeth Stephen, a gambling addiction councilor, has stated that she believes the low risk betting game has a danger of becoming a high risk for addictiveness.

Stephen commented that she was “dismayed” and her clients would be at risk because the game of keno is available at shorter intervals. Stephen made these comments during a CBS interview.

An Atlantic Lottery Corporation representative stated that drawings will take place every five minutes from noon till midnight and players will be able to place a maximum bet of ten dollars per drawing and no limit will be set on how much can be spent in one day. This is the problem that Stephen has with the game as players will be able to place multiple bets at a very fast pace.

In the past research done in Nova Scotia has shown that the multi-draw electronic version of keno has a high risk and Nova Scotia decided not to add the game. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation has stated that the version they will release in March is different than the one that was studied.

A spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation has stated that all precautions will be taken to help players not become addicted to the keno game.






- 2009-02-23